My name is Johnnie Greene, and my life changed in a single moment. Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a scientist and engineer. I worked tirelessly, graduated from UCF as the first person to earn a double major in Physics and Photonic Science & Engineering, and finally became an Engineering & Field Service Manager for an international tech company. I was living the life I worked my entire life to reach.

A few months ago, a drunk, uninsured driver with an open container ran a light and crashed into my Honda Civic—the car I spent six months searching for and planned to restore with my own hands. The impact destroyed my car and left me on the ground with my knee bleeding out while the driver threatened me. Despite everything, officers never performed a DUI test. I survived, but I was left with knee and sternum injuries, debilitating brain fog, weakness, and constant full-body spasms that robbed me of the engineering career I had dreamed of since childhood. I now live with a deep fear of being in cars, making recovery even more difficult.

Because the driver had no insurance, every medical bill, therapy session, and legal fee fell on me. I spent my entire life savings just trying to survive the aftermath. With my contract ending and my injuries preventing me from returning to my field, I am working to rebuild my future through my STEM education project, JaieNerd. But without savings, without a car, and without the ability to work full-time as I heal, I cannot do this on my own. I urgently need help to continue treatment, stay afloat during recovery and create a new path forward. Your support truly determines whether I can rebuild the future I’ve worked for since I was a little girl. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.