Campaign Title: Help 100% Disabled Army Vet Mercedes (51) & Brother Jonathan (58) After Crash

Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

My name is Mercedes. I am a 51-year-old U.S. Army veteran. I am 100% disabled and rely on SSI. My world, and the world of my 58-year-old brother, Jonathan, was completely turned upside down recently july 1 when we were involved in a devastating car accident.

Jonathan had recently moved in with me to get back on his feet after facing an incredibly unlucky few years. He was working so hard to rebuild his life as an Uber Eats delivery driver. Now, this crash has completely halted our progress and threatened our very survival.

The vehicle destroyed in the crash was the only car we shared. It was my only way to get to my vital, ongoing VA medical appointments, and it was Jonathan's sole tool for making a living. Now, we are completely stranded and isolated without any way to get to doctors, buy groceries, or earn an income.

You can read the local news coverage of our accident and see photos/videos of the crash scene here:

https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/car-smashes-power-pole-trapped-occupants-freed-jaws-life

The physical toll on both of us is overwhelming. Jonathan suffered a severe, shattered ankle. He is currently unable to walk and is scheduled for an urgent internal fixation surgery next week. At 58, his doctors expect a grueling recovery process that will take many months before he can drive or work again.

• As for myself, this crash has severely compounded my existing service-connected disabilities. I suffered two severe broken ribs all bruised because of seatbelt, which has left me in excruciating pain and completely unable to manage daily tasks. Because Jonathan is completely immobile with his shattered ankle, neither of us can care for the other. I am now in urgent need of temporary home healthcare to help me navigate basic daily living while we both try to heal.

Living on my fixed SSI income with Jonathan's driving income completely gone for the foreseeable future means we are incredibly vulnerable. I am fully utilizing my monthly VA disability compensation to cover the vast majority of our $2,800 rent, but my benefits alone cannot cover the remaining financial gaps, our missing transportation, and our skyrocketing medical costs while Jonathan is unable to earn an income for months.

We have set our fundraising goal at $35,000 to sustain us through this multi-month recovery period and cover our critical needs:

$10,400 toward upcoming surgical co-pays, medical bills, and temporary private home healthcare assistance to help me manage my broken ribs.

$10,800 to secure our remaining housing costs (the rent gap of $1,800/month that my compensation cannot cover) for the next 6 months of Jonathan's recovery and therapy.

$6,000 to secure a reliable used vehicle so I can attend VA health appointments, we can get basic necessities, and Jonathan can eventually return to work.

$4,800 for ongoing monthly utility bills and essential expenses over the next 6 months.

$3,000 for food and groceries ($500/month) during our extended recovery.

No donation is too small. Every single dollar goes directly toward keeping a disabled Army veteran and her brother housed, fed, and cared for while we heal over these next several months. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this link with your network.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, prayers, and support.

With gratitude,

Mercedes