Hi, I’m Rico, as some of you may know from my recent interview, I’ve experienced something that no one should ever have to go through. My own mother set me up to be killed for a life insurance policy she took out in my name, one I had no knowledge of.

In 2022, I was shot and went through a traumatic experience that changed my life forever. I underwent major surgery where lost my left kidney and spleen. I also had to be resuscitated. For 9 seconds, my heart stopped beating. When I finally woke up from a medically induced coma, I was handcuffed to a bed, shackled at my feet, and wrongfully arrested for a crime I didn’t commit. I was labeled a "high-risk" patient, and an officer was assigned to watch over me 24/7. I wasn’t allowed visitors, and even the few who could visit me were given a hard time and made to feel unwelcome.

I spent nearly two months in the hospital, not just recovering from life-threatening injuries, but also enduring harsh treatment from hospital staff and police officers who had already judged me based on stereotypes. I was fighting for my life, but I also had to fight against the stigma and cruelty they placed on me.

As if that wasn't enough, I also lost everything I had worked hard for: my job, my home, my car. I left the hospital with nothing to my name, only a pile of medical bills. This put a heavy toll on me mentally, physically and financially. I suffered from a deep depression.

However this will not be the end of my story. It took some time, but I've come to realize it's not about where you been it's about where you're going. And I refuse to let what happened to me stop me from doing great things. I'm currently writing a book, detailing the hardships I endured throughout my life.

I’m starting this GoFundMe to ask for your support. This is going to help with my medical bills and also towards publishing my book. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Every donation, every share, and every kind word means more than I can ever express. With your support, I know I can move forward.