12 months ago, my life changed in the most unimaginable way. I survived a plane crash. I never thought I would have to ask for help like this. It feels very vulnerable. But the truth is: my partner and I cannot carry this weight alone anymore. We've been doing that for 12 months.

My total need to cover additional medical care, rehabilitation, therapy, legal fees, and aviation expenses is €30,000. GoFundMe recommends starting with a smaller, achievable goal to build momentum, so the progress bar currently shows a lower amount. As donations grow, the goal will automatically update, and every contribution brings us closer to fully rebuilding our lives and helping me return to the work and life I love.

Just four months before the crash, I had moved with my partner to one of the cities in Spain for a new job as a flight instructor, which is my lifelong passion and dream. I didn’t speak the local language, and we had no support system when the crash happened.

After the crash, with low chances of survival, I was taken to the ICU, where I spent weeks in a coma.

The injuries were devastating:

It is truly a miracle that I survived.

However, I also want to take a moment to honor the person who tragically lost her life in the crash. Her death has weighed heavily on my heart, and I continue to feel the profound sadness of her loss.

For Zuzanna, meeting her loved ones at the memorial shortly after the accident was heartbreaking, and both of us have carried that grief with us throughout my recovery.

Out of deep respect for her and her family, we have chosen not to share her personal information in this campaign. We want to tell our story without causing further pain to those who have already suffered so much. Protecting her memory and her family’s privacy feels incredibly important to us.

Unfortunately there have been practical challenges in my recovery. The insurance company covered surgeries, hospital stays, and basic rehabilitation, but did not provide psychological support. Language barriers prevented me from accessing proper therapy through them, despite repeated requests.

On top of that, the company I worked for turned its back on us. In the media, they claimed to be supportive, but in reality they refused to help me, my partner, or my family when we needed it most.

My family lives on another continent and could not come to support us. My father, himself a heart patient, is the sole provider for my family and could not assist financially. A few people close to us visited and offered emotional support when they could, for which we are deeply grateful. But for the most part, we had to navigate recovery and all challenges largely on our own.

The only person by my side every single day, 24/7, has been my partner. She lived with me in hospital rooms for months, both in the city of initial treatment and in another city where I was transferred for further care. She supported me physically, emotionally, and administratively, bridging the gap between doctors, the insurance company, and all the paperwork.

She had no family or support here either, yet she stepped up to provide full-time care during the most critical period of my recovery. This intense year required extraordinary commitment, and she handled it with incredible strength, organization, and resilience, all while maintaining her professional skills and responsibilities. After this intense period, she is now recovering from the stress of caregiving and gradually resuming her professional life, while attending therapy for the secondary trauma this year brought.

The insurance allowance of €1,300 per month has been our primary income, covering only rent, food, and basic expenses. Additional funds are crucial for specialized rehab, therapy, and legal costs.

After nearly a year, we had no choice but to start paying privately for a psychotraumatologist, further cutting back on our already tight budget, and even that is still not enough.

I have been struggling with severe PTSD, depression, and anxiety, reliving the crash, enduring constant pain, financial stress, and worrying about legal costs. My partner managed this while navigating life in a foreign country and the immense stress of caregiving. The weight of recovery, daily life, and ongoing pressures has been overwhelming, yet we remain determined to heal and rebuild our lives.

Along this journey, we have been blessed to meet other survivors of serious work accidents. Their courage, perseverance, and positivity have been both inspiring and humbling. Sharing experiences with them reminded us that even in the darkest moments, the human spirit shines brightest when we support one another. These incredible individuals have become a meaningful part of our story, showing us that hope, strength, and recovery are possible.

Through everything, one thing never left me: my passion for flying.

Becoming a pilot and flight instructor has been my dream since early childhood. My family invested over €100,000 in my training to help me achieve this dream.

Flying is not just a job for me. It is my identity, my calling, and my purpose. I cannot imagine life without it, and the thought of losing my dream career because of financial pressure breaks my heart.

The aviation industry also requires expensive annual renewals:

These costs are necessary to keep my license valid and return to work after recovery.

I want to fully recover, return to the cockpit, teach aspiring pilots, rebuild my future, and live a happy life with my partner.

Your support will directly fund:

If you cannot donate, sharing this campaign on social media or with friends can make a huge difference. Every share spreads hope further. Every donation, no matter how small, will directly impact my ability to heal and move forward. You will not just be helping cover bills. You will help rebuild my health, my career, and my dream of flying again. You will help us both heal.

This past year has been the hardest of my life, and my partner’s life. But I survived for a reason: to keep going, to not give up on myself or my dream.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and standing with us in this fight for recovery and hope.

With gratitude,

Ashif & Zuzanna