Hi guys, my name is Vanessa and I was in a car accident when I was 19 years old. I was home for spring break from college when this happened. The car caught fire and ended up suffering 3rd and 4th degree burns on 79% of my body. The burns as well as the smoke inhalation caused severe damage and pain to my body so the doctors put my in an induced coma. Throughout my sedated months, I went in and out surgeries constantly and at one point I got pneumonia and no one believed I would survive, so my family was given no hope for my survival. Thankfully, I survived and overcame it, but soon after I had an infection in my right leg that was killing me, the only option was amputation. Waking up from my coma, it was hard to hear that I no longer had my leg and it was even harder for me because I suffered muscle atrophy so I couldn't move for a while. Even with physical therapy, I was still limited in what I could do because my skin grafts weren't healed, I bled and suffered pain constantly almost with every movement I had. And that was just the beginning for me, because all those months of therapy only led to me sitting in an upright position for more than 10 seconds.

Literally seconds, thats as much as I could do and I started loosing hope for me, but I kept fighting and now I can move around with my prosthetic and I'm glad I worked hard to be able to get here. Unfortunately its not the amount I used to be able to move around. I used to be very active, and daring, I was learning to fly a little Cessna. I was always excited to try anything new. But this isn't why I'm asking for help. I'm here asking for help because I went through over more than 18 surgeries and I still have one that I really want but my insurance won't cover it because they don't see it as medically necessary, which is understandable. However, I really want to be able to lift my fingers and be able to bend them once again. It is hard for me to hold things, such as a cup or a pencil. Along with that surgery, I was told of one that would help me have my hair again instead of a bald spot from the burns. Going out, I feel insecure so I cover it with caps, and I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal, I could wear a wig. But I guess, I just want to return to as normal as I used to be. Seeing scars everyday all over my body everyday just, seems frustrating. The only one I could help would be scalp since the other scars will naturally go away with time. 

Emotionally, I personally didn't want to try doing anything, because not only did I lose my leg, I lost 2 friends and my boyfriend in the accident. But I saw my family so happy that I was alive, that I did it for them. I did it for my boyfriend who, while we were together, always saw me as a fighter, as someone who would never let herself be stopped not even by myself. I did it for my 2 friends who were always happy for me and taught me to live life day by day. I did it for my best friend Hannah, who never stopped supporting my family, and who continues to love me. I did it for my younger sisters, whom would never admit it to me, but apparently always saw me as a role model. I did it for all of them who never gave up on me, even when I continue to give up on myself.

I understand completely that these are hard times because of COVID. But I can promise you anything helps, if I could even raise money for my copays, I would call this successful. I just don't want my family, especially my sister to limit her college choices and to think that my parents can't help her pay her way through college. She deserves to live her life the way she deserves and imagined for herself, because I appreciate her putting up with not being able to do things for myself when I first got home, and still now when I can't do something for myself she doesn't argue or complain. I don't want her to worry about money for college because my parents use that money on me instead.

I really do appreciate anything, thank you.