On July 22, 2025, at 9:57 AM, Almaz Dessalegn Tesfaye, a 44 year old outstanding mother, wife, and daughter, was involved in a life-threatening car wreck off of the Bammel North Houston roadway in Houston, TX. Originally from Addis Ababa, Almaz came to the U.S. after spending some time working in Europe (Czech Republic), doing all of these travels, to help her husband support their 9-year-old son, as well as her elderly father back home. She is characterized by her hard work, selfless sacrifice, and kindness, especially in her church community. Despite having no immediate family in Houston, she has spent her life caring for others - now, she needs all of us to step in for her dear brothers and sisters.

The wreck Almaz was horribly involved in was severe. Almaz's wreck caused disfigurement and loss of consciousness. She went into cardiac arrest, losing oxygen to her brain for nearly 12 minutes. Paramedics took nearly 15 minutes to arrive, and since her arrival at the hospital, she has remained in a coma, undergoing multiple surgeries and medical interventions.

The brain is extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation, and even a few minutes can cause damage. Twelve minutes is critical, and many would assume recovery is unlikely.

Yet there is reason for hope. Despite being in a coma for nearly a month, Almaz shows meaningful responses! She sometimes reacts to visitors from her church family or distant friends checking in and speaking to her while visiting and praying, with tears. Medically, this is known as a minimally conscious state, which means that parts of her brain are still active and capable of awareness. With proper, round-the-clock medical care, rehabilitation, and supportive therapy, patients in this state can regain consciousness and gradually recover functions, though the process can take weeks to months.

Your support will go directly toward the specialized care and rehabilitation she needs. Every donation gives Almaz the best chance to awaken and recover, helping a devoted mother, wife, and daughter fight for her life.

Despite Almaz showing signs of responsiveness, her care has been hindered by lack of insurance, and there are ongoing concerns about hospital decisions, including a DNR order (which means the hospital staff would not try to rescue her if her heart stopped or breathing ceased for a moment) implemented without us knowing if they were given certain full consent from her husband. Communication across continents has made it extremely difficult for her family to be present and advocate for her.

Almaz’s husband has been denied once to travel to the U.S. to be by her side, and we are trying once again with the embassy to get him through, where he would be leaving their son thousands of miles away unable to hear his mother’s voice or comfort her with his presence. Every day is critical as Almaz's newfound support system works tirelessly to secure her transfer to a more refugee-friendly hospital, and plans for extensive facial reconstruction, dentistry, and long-term rehabilitation if she as we pray is able to pull through and make a recovery.

The financial burden is overwhelming. Costs for medical care, medications, and rehabilitation are astronomical. Donations will also help support her family, including raising her son if the (God-forbid) worst were to happen, and ensuring a dignified Ethiopian funeral and ceremony if necessary.

Almaz has spent her life giving to others. Now she needs a community of support to fight for her life. Every contribution; whether financial support, legal advice, prayer, or simply sharing this campaign to those who may have the ability to support, matters so very much. No amount is too small. I emphasize, every bit of support helps dear family!

Ways your donation will help:

Hospital bills, medications, and critical care expenses

Rehabilitation, therapy, and long-term recovery costs

Supporting her husband, son and elderly father during this difficult time

Funeral and repatriation expenses if needed

We are committed to transparency. Every dollar will go directly toward Almaz’s care and supporting her family. Please join us in giving Almaz the fighting chance she deserves.

Donate, share, pray, and help give Almaz a voice when she cannot speak for herself.

Background on me, the campaign organizer, Abel Andargachew: I am a 21-year-old college student here in Houston who heard of Almaz's desperate and horrible situation from my mother, who works at a hospital and is close friends with a friend of one of Almaz's cousins, Lemlem Johnson, who was the first point of contact that had first seen Almaz in the hospital. I couldn't imagine what it would be like being in the place of Almaz's son, who at 9 years old not only is facing losing his mother, but cannot even speak with her. I knew I had to help. Because of my technical understanding and experience creating a GoFundMe campaign for others, I volunteered to help Almaz by organizing this fundraiser for her. All fund usage will be overseen by Lemlem Johnson, Andargachew Tefera (my father, who is the financial officer of a nonprofit organization that currently serves in Ethiopia), and will be openly and transparently posted for all of you to observe via the updates to this GoFundMe page.

Please feel free to reach me at my email, [email redacted], with any questions, requests, or comments, or message us through the GoFundMe messaging option.

Thank you in advance to every single one of you, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, young men and young women, who step forward as a column of support, an angel in Almaz's time of distress, and let your ove, care, compassion, and generosity, minister to Almaz's needs right now. I thank God for each and every one of you, and I know she does too. Thank you all. Let's band together and help Almaz fight for her life, we're in this for the long run.