Hi everyone. Thank you for making your way to this page.

For the last 25+ years, I've been going to the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association where I camp in the beautiful Northern CA Redwoods with friends and loved ones in my community. This place is truly magical and have very fond memories there. On the second to last evening there, a dance party was held. "Jump Around" by House of Pain was playing and I decided to follow the instructions and jump around. While I was jumping, I jumped up and immediately felt my knee give out and pop. As a result of that, I was unable to bare any weight or bend my knee. The next morning, I was extracted out of the forest by the Mendocino Fire Department and local paramedics and taken to the hospital which was 45 minutes away and x-rays were taken and no broken bones (hooray!) The emergency room MD as well as the medical staff at the camp (three doctors and four nurses) suspected that I had torn my ACL. Upon confirmation of an MRI, I tore my right ACL and had surgery on September 18th at the hospital where I work in Los Angeles. Surgery was successful and PT has begun and I am continuing to make great progress.

As a result of my injury and subsequent surgery and need for physical therapy, I am currently on a leave of absence from my social work job in the emergency room and hospital. As you can imagine and I am fully aware, the amount of medical bills that have been acquired since surgery has been quite a lot. While I am receiving some funds from my work through my leave of absence and short-term disability- it's not enough to cover my monthly expenses and these medical bills.

I am raising funds to get me through this intense time and help pay for medical expenses and transportation and also to help support me while I heal and recover and until I can safely return to work. Thank you in advance for your assistance, prayers, and good wishes while I continue to recover from ACL surgery!

With gratitude,

Maleka