In mid-October, my dear friend Leslie faced the darkest moment of her life and survived a suicide attempt that left her with traumatic injuries: a shattered pelvis, broken tibia, and a severe hematoma in her lower back. Despite the trauma, she miraculously avoided spinal cord damage and continues to fight for her recovery with extraordinary courage and determination.

In the weeks since, Leslie has undergone emergency surgeries to stabilize her pelvis and ankle with rods and screws, spent 11 days in the hospital, a week in physical rehabilitation, and returned to the ER twice after falling through the cracks of our medical system. Her journey to recovery is far from over. She is still unable to walk for at least 6-8 weeks post-surgery and will face months of physical therapy, follow-up appointments, and critical mental health care.

Because of her injuries, Leslie will be unable to work for several months. She has yet to receive income for her medical leave of absence from work and will only earn 60% of her wages for her entire time away from work. We’re asking for support to help cover three months of living expenses ($2,500 per month) and an additional $2500 for care not covered by insurance, including:

Leslie is a deeply empathetic, hardworking woman whose dream is to become a trauma-informed elementary school teacher. This last August, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Intervention and Prevention Science. She has dedicated herself to helping children learn, grow, and believe in themselves, even while quietly navigating her own challenges. Supporting her now means investing in the kind of person who will soon pour that same compassion and strength back into the world, through the lives of the students she’ll teach and inspire. Supporting herself through college was not easy and she has yet to financially recover from the costs associated with higher education. Additionally, she plans to acquire her teaching license as soon as possible and is both excited and motivated to get to work in her field. This would allow her to finally step away from retail and make a difference in the world, which would be incredibly meaningful for someone with a heart as big as Leslie’s.

This experience has also awakened a profound commitment in Leslie to her own mental health and to suicide awareness and prevention. Having survived this, she’s determined to use this experience to remind others that there are paths forward, even when they can’t yet see them. What makes her story especially important is that to most people there weren’t any clear warning signs leading up to her attempt; a sobering reminder that even those who seem “okay” can be fighting deep, invisible battles. Leslie hopes her recovery can shed light on this reality and inspire others to check in on their loved ones, to ask twice, and to listen without judgement. Most importantly, she wants to remind those who are struggling to *reach out* when they’re in need of help themselves.

Any amount you can give will help ease the immense burden she carries and remind her that she’s not alone in recovery. Thank you for helping Leslie find stability, strength, health, and wellness.