Howdy, my name is Jasmine and I am a single mother to a very special 6-year-old named Jolene. Jolene suffers from an extremely rare genetic disorder called ZARD (ZC4H2 and Associated Rare Diseases... learn more at www.zc4h2foundation.org). But don't be fooled, she's the happiest, funniest, sweetest, and sassiest lil queen you could ever imagine. Her disease renders her non-ambulatory with weak muscles, so she requires a lot of equipment to live her best life - a wheelchair, special chair for sitting and eating, a standing device, and more.

I was visiting a dear friend who offered Jo and me some support at his home in Wink, Texas, with him and his 4 lovely children. He offered the support because my mother committed suicide 2 months prior, and I found myself struggling to get out of bed each day. We took him up on the offer, and he flew to CA and helped us drive our wheelchair van to Texas with all Jo's equipment and things we'd need for a few months. As healing and helpful as it was to have the support, the trip had to come to an end, and Jo and I needed to head back home to Santa Cruz, CA, for school, surgeries, and our beloved chickens.

On Saturday, August 17th, Jo and I were driving from Wink, Texas, to Austin to meet my uncle at the airport. He flew in from Ohio to grab Jo and take her on a plane back to Santa Cruz so that I could drive the van home. I arranged it this way specifically because it would be too difficult to keep Jo safe and happy with all her needs while driving in the summer heat. For instance, if she was hungry or wet her diaper, I would need to pull over... and it's a looong drive home.

This next part is hard, but I'll do my best to keep emotions out and facts in.

On our way to Austin, I turned my head away from the road for a split second to reach back and give Jolene some juice. When I turned my head back around, we had veered slightly off the road into cactus brush/gravel. I overcorrected in the van, and we rolled 5-7 times. I've learned since that this particular van was recalled due to its high profile and propensity to catch wind and roll. It was a windy day.

I was able to crawl out from under the van, screaming for Jo, and I found her still in her wheelchair upside down. She was screaming and bleeding from her head, mouth, and nose, but she was alive!

It took 40 minutes for any emergency responders to arrive. Meanwhile, kind people that saw the crash helped keep us cool on the side of the road and keep Jo awake while we waited. She was airlifted to San Angelo hospital and received life-saving brain surgery to release blood that had built up around her skull, putting pressure on her brain. She also suffered small fractures in her femur, shoulder, and two fingers. She was then airlifted to Austin Dell Children's Hospital, where we have been in the pediatric intensive care unit ever since.

It is nothing short of a miracle that we're both alive and recovering well here in Austin.

If you know me, you know I find it hard to ask for help. But I'm finding myself in a position where I simply have no choice.

While we both have Medi-Cal, they are only covering a portion since the accident happened out of state. Medical bills, ginormous adaptive equipment bills, hotel bills, car rental bills, etc., are piling up. I gave up my lucrative career to be with Jo full-time and live off the little assistance I get through state services.

Most of her equipment was ruined in the crash. Some may be able to be replaced here in Austin, but it will take time. A lot of our clothes, toys, and belongings were ruined in the crash too. We are hoping to get discharged soon, but it's going to be a long road to full recovery. We will likely need to stay in Austin for a month or two after we're discharged until Jolene is well enough to travel.

I'm humbly asking for monetary donations to help cover the following expenses:

- Medical bills for Jolene

- Medical bills for myself

- Funds for a new wheelchair van

- Funds for Airbnbs/hotels in the Austin area

- Funds for clothing, toys, replacing the things that mattered to us most

- Funds for cremation of my mother's remains: $6048

- Rental car bills

- Hotel bills for my uncle while he was able to stay with us.

Thank you so much for listening to our story. I feel embarrassed to ask, but I simply can no longer do this alone. Anything helps... and I mean anything!

With love, hope, and endless gratitude,

Jolene and Jasmine