On January 31, 2025, Aaliyah suffered a devastating and life-changing head injury during a high school basketball game. While she managed to walk off the court, none of us could have imagined how much her life—and ours—would change in the days that followed. She was diagnosed with a concussion, whiplash, and a stretch injury in her neck, which caused an immediate headache, neck pain and a loss of neck mobility. Soon after, Aaliyah began to lose both short- and long-term memory. She forgot people she had known for years, couldn’t recall any details from her days, and often felt lost—even in her own room. Those months of amnesia were the scariest and hardest part of this journey, and while most of her memory has thankfully returned, she will never get back those lost days from last spring.

Unfortunately, many of Aaliyah’s symptoms have persisted. She has endured a constant headache since that day in January, along with eye pain and upper body soreness. Since February, she has worked vigorously with her medical team to improve her range of motion, eye tracking, balance and coordination, strength and endurance, and stimulating activities that promote brain recovery and neuroplasticity. Despite her dedication and some improvements, Aaliyah still struggles daily with excruciating head and neck pain, brain fog, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and other symptoms. These challenges make it difficult for her to navigate a normal day, especially as a high-achieving student athlete.

After nearly a year of weekly medical appointments, therapies, and treatments, we have found a new facility specializing in Brain Function and Neuro Repair. This advanced and intense treatment offers hope for Aaliyah’s recovery, but it comes at a significant cost and is not covered by insurance. The funds raised will help cover these treatments, including neuro feedback, EEG brain activity tracking, and other specialized therapies aimed at helping Aaliyah finally find relief and hopefully make a full recovery, allowing her to get back to all of the things she loves without pain and limitations.

Aaliyah’s story is inspiring because, despite everything she is going through, she continues to show up every day with a smile and her best self. She is a leader at school, a supportive daughter and sister at home, and a dedicated teammate and coach in sports. Recently, Aaliyah has been able to participate in some of her usual activities for the sake of her mental health, but doing so often comes at the cost of feeling even worse afterward. Aaliyah is always the first to help others, putting their needs before her own. Now, as she faces this difficult time and has exhausted other options, I hope our community can come together to support her just as she has supported so many of us.

Several people have asked for a direct way to donate: Venmo: @CJAM3 or Cashapp: $CJAM3. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference. We are forever grateful for your kindness and support!