My Daughter Dori Was Hurt Helping Others – Please Help Her

My name is Aliza Itenberg, I'm From NY and I’m writing this as a mother — heartbroken, shaken, and asking for help for my daughter, Dori.

Dori was severely hurt in a rollover ATV accident while volunteering for two weeks as a licensed paramedic doing Search and Recovery after the devasting floods in Kerrville and camp mystic in texas. She’s the kind of person who never turns away from a crisis — the kind who runs toward it. For two weeks straight, she volunteered, working long days in the blistering heat as part of the flood search and recovery teams. She’s been helping recover those who were lost — some of them children — and doing it with quiet strength, side by side with veterans, first responders, and other volunteers.

On Thursday, while leading field operations, Dori was doing what she always does — taking care of others. After hours of working alongside her team in the unforgiving heat, she left the site briefly to bring back water and snacks to keep everyone going. Her team had been digging for hours near a location identified by cadaver dogs — building a dam to redirect the river and reach what they believed was someone’s loved one buried beneath the flood debris. As Dori returned to the site, just moments away from rejoining her team, the ATV rolled. What began as an act of service ended in a devastating accident.

She was riding as a passenger in a four-door Polaris ATV when it suddenly flipped and rolled, tossing her violently inside the vehicle. The crash was so severe that Dori had to be airlifted by helicopter to a military hospital in San Antonio, where she arrived in traumatic shock. She underwent multiple CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays, received two emergency units of blood, and required extensive stitches to her head. Swelling and injury to her C3/C4 vertebrae left her temporarily unable to move her arms or legs.

Although she has thankfully regained most of her mobility, Dori is still far from recovered. She remains in a neck brace, unable to turn her head or lift anything heavy, and must wear the brace for at least a month before undergoing another MRI and neurological evaluation and eventually PT. She is in constant pain, unable to work, and facing this recovery without insurance, income, or stability.

Dori has spent her life taking care of others. She’s responded to disasters, held the hands of strangers, and gone into places most people would never dare to go. She did it because it’s who she is — someone who shows up when it matters.

And now, she needs someone to show up for her.

We are raising 30,000 in funds to help cover:

Emergency hospital and life flight expenses

Follow-up care, MRIs, and physical therapy

Rent, groceries, and basic living costs while she recovers and is unable to work

All funds raised will go directly toward Dori’s recovery and basic living expenses. I (Aliza) am managing the funds on her behalf, and I will ensure that every dollar is used with integrity and transparency.

If you can give, we are deeply grateful. If you can’t, please share her story. Every act of kindness brings her closer to healing and peace of mind.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.

With love,

Aliza Itenberg

Dori’s mom