My daughter is an 18-year-old college student at UC Irvine, starting her first year and full of hope for the future. On Sunday, March 1, 2026, while traveling southbound on Interstate 5 to visit a school friend in San Diego, she got a flat tire. While waiting for help, she was struck by a Nissan Titan truck. The driver, who was later arrested for felony DUI and hit-and-run, left her on the side of the road without stopping or calling for help. Thankfully, a passerby—a Marine—saw her lying next to her vehicle and immediately called 9-1-1 and her emergency contacts. She was airlifted to San Diego Scripps Trauma Center, where she remains in critical condition and is undergoing multiple surgeries. Her right arm was nearly ripped off, and her recovery is uncertain at this time. She may face life-altering injuries as a result of this tragic accident caused by a drunk driver who showed no remorse for a young, beautiful college student.

My daughter has a long road to recovery ahead, with many obstacles to overcome. The funds raised will help cover her mounting medical bills, the cost of traveling back and forth to San Diego so I can be with her during her surgeries, and possibly a prosthetic arm if she loses her arm. Your support will help ensure she is not alone during this difficult journey and give her the best chance at healing and regaining her independence.

If anyone can help out with her medical expenses and the costs of traveling so I can be by her side, it would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading her story and for any support you can offer.