Just weeks ago, Leah Silver-Fajardo was celebrating her 21st birthday in Italy, surrounded by her parents, sister, and new friends from her study-abroad program. It was October 7, and Leah was living the adventure she dreamed of studying in Florence, exploring Europe, experiencing new cultures, and making memories that would last a lifetime.

Now, instead of attending classes, exploring new cities, and enjoying life with her friends, Leah is lying in a hospital bed in Spain, recovering from devastating injuries sustained in a tragic train crash that claimed so many lives.

As Leah’s Tita Rachel, I'm reaching out on behalf of our family to ask for your support to help Leah navigate the unimaginable physical and emotional challenges ahead.

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Leah is a junior at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where she is majoring in neuropsychology. Fascinated by the human brain, she hopes to pursue work involving brain research, psychopharmacology, and behavioral health.

Leah loves being on the move and is an outstanding athlete, who loves to run, hike, travel and immerse herself in different cultures. Her first love is Soccer, but she loves trying new sports and has enjoyed playing ultimate Frisbee and flag football.

Her junior semester abroad in Florence was the perfect opportunity to combine her love of learning, travel, and adventure.

A Life Changed in an Instant

Like so many college students studying abroad, she was taking advantage of an extraordinary opportunity to experience the world.

That experience turned into a nightmare when Leah was caught in a horrific train accident in Spain.

Given the high number of casualties, we are all so grateful that Leah survived, but her injuries are extensive. She has suffered a broken knee, broken pelvis, multiple broken ribs, bruised lungs, scrapes and burns across her body.

Leah has already undergone surgery on her knee and will be soon enduring another surgery to repair her pelvis. Although she has thankfully been moved out of intensive care, she remains hospitalized in Spain, facing a lengthy hospital stay and extensive long-term rehabilitation.

For our active young Leah, who loves running, hiking, soccer, and being active, the physical road ahead will be especially challenging.

We all know physical injuries are only part of her story as Leah will also need time and support to heal from the emotional trauma of this horrific crash and the terrifying experience of escaping the train.

Leah's Family Dropped Everything to Be by Her Side

In the chaotic aftermath of the accident, Leah's parents, Nicole and Sergio, endured something no parent should ever have to experience. The embassy reached out to let them know Leah was in a train crash, and for a period of time, they didn’t if she had survived or know where she had been taken. Leah's friends from her program went from hospital to hospital searching for her until they finally found her and notified Leah’s parents.

Since then, Leah's parents and her sister Hannah have arrived in Spain to be by her side.

Both of her parents have left their jobs and daily responsibilities behind, while her sister Hannah stepped away from her final year of law school. Right now, their only priority is Leah.

The past several days have been a blur of travel, hospitals, medical decisions, and trying to understand what comes next. And while the family is grateful beyond words that Leah survived, they are only beginning to comprehend how long and difficult her recovery will be.

How You Can Help Leah and Her Family

We are incredibly grateful that Leah's study-abroad program is helping cover many of her immediate medical expenses and will cover her transportation back to the United States when she is medically able to travel.

But there are still significant expenses ahead, and many unknowns.

Your donations will help cover:

* Medical care and treatment not covered by insurance, her study-abroad program, or other sources.

* Living expenses for Leah's family in Spain, allowing her parents and sister to remain by her side during this critical time.

* Long-term rehabilitation and physical therapy as Leah works to regain her strength, mobility, and independence.

We don't yet know the full extent of Leah's future medical and rehabilitation needs. What we do know is that her recovery will not be measured in days or weeks. It will be a long journey, and we want her and her family to be able to focus on healing rather than the mounting financial uncertainty.

Help Us Give Leah the Chance to Heal

Leah has already survived something unimaginable. Now she faces the difficult work of recovery, physically and emotionally.

We cannot undo what happened to her. But together, we can help ease the burden on her family and make sure Leah has the support she needs for the road ahead.

No donation is too small. Every contribution will help, and if you're unable to give, sharing Leah's story is another meaningful way to support her.

On behalf of Leah, Nicole, Sergio, Hannah and our entire family, thank you for your generosity, compassion, prayers, and encouragement.

We are profoundly grateful that Leah is still with us. Now we want to help her reclaim the future that was so suddenly interrupted.

With love and gratitude,

Tita Rachel (and Leah’s Primo and Primas, Dori, Jody, Eden and Lukas)