Hi, I’m Chelsey. I really hate having to do this, but I don’t have any other option right now.

Back in October 2024, I got rear-ended on the interstate. Traffic was completely stopped during rush hour, and an uninsured driver hit me going around 40 mph because she wasn’t paying attention. Since that day, my life has honestly been turned upside down.

I’m a server, so I’ve always been used to being on my feet and pushing through long shifts… but this pain is different. It’s not something you can just “push through.” It’s constant, and some days it’s unbearable. There are times where I can’t even stand up straight, can’t bend, can’t walk without pain shooting through my back and legs. My legs keep giving out on me because of the nerve damage, and I keep falling. Sleeping is hard, I wake up throughout the night because I can’t get comfortable no matter what I do, and I'm in so much pain all the time.

I’ve tried everything to avoid surgery but its inevitable at this point. I’ve gone through multiple rounds of physical therapy and spine injections, hoping something would work and change but nothing has. The pain just keeps getting worse.

Now I have no choice but to have surgery in June, sooner than what it was expected due to the severity of the injury to prevent irreparable nerve damage. They’re putting in an artificial disc and stabilizing my spine at L5-S1. I’ll be in the hospital for a few days, and then it’s a long recovery. My doctor told me I won’t be able to work for at least 18–20 weeks, and even after that I’ll still need rehab and more physical therapy.

The hardest part is I don’t have a safety net. As a server, I don’t get paid time off. My doctor is already taking me out of work starting early June because my condition keeps getting worse.

And on top of everything, my apartment told me they’re not renewing my lease after I had it tested for black mold, which came back positive after I had already complained about it multiple times. Now I have to move out by the end of May.

So right now I’m facing surgery, months without income, and not even knowing where I’m going to live… all at once.

Anything donated will go directly toward medical bills, recovery, and basic living expenses while I’m unable to work so I can focus on healing instead of trying to survive day to day.

I’m not the type of person to ask for help, but I really need it right now. If you’re able to donate or even just share this, it would mean more to me than I can explain.

Thank you everyone.