My niece Alicia’s life changed in the early morning hours of April 3rd, 2026. She was rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and diagnosed with a serious aorta dissection. Because the hospital couldn’t perform the surgery she needed, Alicia was airlifted to Shands in Gainesville. As soon as she arrived, she was taken into a 13-hour emergency surgery to repair the tear in her neck area. My sister and I drove to Shands to be with Alicia’s daughters during this terrifying time. When the doctor told us the surgery was complete, we all felt a huge sense of relief. But Alicia’s challenges were far from over. A CT scan revealed she’d suffered an ischemic stroke on her right side. She was put back on a ventilator, went into AFIB, and had to be shocked twice. Insurance issues delayed her next steps, and she’ll need to be placed in a rehab facility to help her recover and wean off the ventilator. Her daughters have been traveling back and forth from Tallahassee, facing mounting stress and expenses. At one point, they were told it would be very expensive just to transport Alicia back home, though thankfully the hospital stepped in to help. Still, insurance problems continue to create obstacles. Alicia has already endured open heart surgery and chemo treatments in the past year. She and her daughters have truly been through so much. Any donation will help cover rehab, travel, and daily expenses that insurance doesn’t cover. I’ll be managing this GoFundMe to make sure every dollar goes where it’s needed most. Times are tough for everyone, but even a small gift or a prayer will help Alicia and her daughters get through this. Thank you for your kindness and support.