Megan's road to recovery ,healing and regain independence!

Dear Friends, Family, and Kind Supporters,

I never imagined I’d be in a position where I would need to ask for help like this. It’s hard to reach out, but after my accident, I’ve realized that sometimes, we have to lean on the kindness of others to get through life's toughest moments. This is one of those times for me.

Life changed in an instant for me at 8am on the morning of Saturday, March 1st. I was on my way to babysit a friends children for a few days (also planned to have my sons join that evening for a sleepover) when I was involved in a serious one-vehicle accident. My vehicle rolled five times, went airborne, and landed upside down in a deep ditch on the opposite direction of the highway I was traveling. I was trapped hanging upside down by my seatbelt, blood and glass everywhere unable to free myself, until fire rescue arrived to extract me. I was in complete shock , panic and beyond scared. I think of that morning and replay it all in my head almost daily it seems. Some nights I can't sleep and some nights I wake up in panic and can't fall back asleep. I know I am lucky to be alive and I am here for a reason. My three sons still needed their mama here.

I will always be grateful for the young lady who witnessed it, called 911 ;her voice calmed me knowing I wasnt alone because I couldn't see out. She stayed with me as well as two men who came to my side—opening part of my windshield just enough to hold my hand and offer comfort until rescue arrived. Their kindness reminded me that even in terrifying moments, there are people willing to step in and help.

I was rushed to the trauma emergency department at UF Health. I spent eight days in the trauma ICU. My injuries included a broken sternum,blood in my lung, a large wound on my right leg that required stitches and will need further treatment, deep cuts, large bruises covering my body, and an elbow injury requiring extensive scans still to this day. The medical bills from my hospitalization quickly exhausted my insurance, leaving me with overwhelming expenses.

Beyond the medical costs, I still have my "regular bills", I’ve had to pay for transportation to and from my doctor’s appointments while recovering, not to mention I lost my vehicle in the accident. Before this, I worked two jobs to keep my head above water. My injuries have kept me from returning to work. I also unfortunately have zero benefits at either job.

Not being able to work and not having a vehicle has turned my day to day routines completely around. I went from seeing my sons often , taking the youngest to and from school everyday, working both jobs 5 days a week, being independent with normal everyday things that people take forgranted. (Me now especially) To non stop Dr appointmens, hospital visits, scans, tests, countless phone calls etc and being anxious , frustrated and upset. Besides physical pain the burden of all this is emotionally exhausting.

I cherish the time I am able to spend with my three sons, and lately its been even harder. My eldest’s son will be graduating from High School very soon and moving to Tallahassee to attend FSU, I want to be fully present to celebrate this milestone and help him anyway I can.

Despite everything, I remain hopeful for my future. I am determined to heal, regain my independence, and rebuild my life. I am seeking to raise funds to help cover medical expenses, essential supplies, transportation costs, and save for a vehicle so I can return to work and be there for my family.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to those who have already shown me kindness and support. Your generosity and encouragement mean the world to me, and I am truly thankful. Especially to the family I live with who graciously opened their home to me so I can recover. I will never be able to show them how much they mean to me. Also to my friends who have given up their time and energy to driving me here there and everywhere! I can never thank you enough!

If you’re able to contribute, I would be incredibly grateful. If giving isn’t possible, even sharing this message or offering words of encouragement would be a gift in itself.

Your kindness reminds me that even in the hardest times, I am not alone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of my journey.

With gratitude and love,

Megan O'Donnell Kalinosky