Recovering After a Life-Changing Car Accident

Hi, my name is Ciara (also known as Indigo), and I’m reaching out for support during the most difficult chapter of my life.

On March 20th, 2025, I was in a devastating car accident in Metro Detroit that left me with severe, life-altering injuries. I was rushed to the ER, where I immediately underwent two emergency reconstructive surgeries. I spent the next week in the ICU, undergoing two additional surgeries as doctors worked to stabilize my body and save my mobility.

My Injuries Include:

17 broken bones, including my sternum, femur, 10 ribs, hand, knee, hip, ankle, and pelvis

A collapsed and punctured lung

Torn and severed ligaments and muscles in my right leg

Partial paralysis in my foot and ankle due to sciatic nerve damage

I now face another major surgery in early October to reconstruct the ligaments in my knee. Until then, I remain in a wheelchair and in physical therapy, unable to walk or return to work.

Financial Strain & Urgent Need

The accident has forced me to leave my job at a bakery, move out of my townhouse away from my pets and move into ADA-accessible housing that accommodates my mobility and careneeds. Rent alone is $3,000/month (not including utilities), and with no income and no vehicle, I’m struggling to stay afloat. My car was totaled, and my partial insurance has only covered a portion of the medical bills — I’ve already received one bill for $90,000, with more expected.

My mom has been by my side since day one, helping with daily care and covering expenses. But she’s now preparing to return to South Carolina and can no longer assist financially. She is also grieving the recent loss of her husband — my dad — who passed away in September, while dealing with her own health issues and needing surgeries of her own.

A Year of Loss and Hardship

This past year has been beyond heartbreaking. I lost my father in September, was in a catastrophic accident just six months later, and also recently lost a close friend who was like a sister to me. The emotional toll has been immense, and I’m doing everything I can just to keep going — physically, emotionally, and financially.

Why I’m Asking for Help

I’m fundraising to cover:

Accessible housing and living expenses

A reliable vehicle to get to medical appointments and run essential errands or a motorized scooter to increase mobility

Ongoing medical bills and rehabilitation costs

A small sense of stability and peace of mind during recovery

Without support, I’m at risk of losing my housing just as I go into another major surgery — and I still have a long road ahead. Your donation would allow me to focus on healing instead of survival, and help me maintain some independence and dignity during this extremely vulnerable time.

I never imagined I’d be in this position, but if you’re able to give — or even just share my story — it would mean the world to me.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for being part of my journey toward recovery.

With love and gratitude,

Ciara (Indigo)

(I am autistic and LGBTQIA+)