Gina Was Hit By A Drunk Driver
A well known photographer in Chicago was badly hurt in a drunk driver accident.
THE ACCIDENT:
Around 12:15 am on Mar 27' a drunk driver struck Gina while she was parked, sitting with one leg out of her vehicle. The photo below is what Gina saw when she looked down at her leg.
The driver of the vehicle never got outof his car to help Gina. She then beganto scream for help. Neighbors heard the commotion and called 911
Gina has already been in the hospital for 3 weeks and undergone 4 surgeries. Doctors are unsure when she will be able to leave the hospital just yet and how many more surgeries she will need. She is in the burn unit to prevent infection to help save her foot. Gina lives alone in Chicago alone with no family other than her cat. Without family to help care for her when she is released from the hospital Gina will have to go to a nursing home to be cared for in between surgeries.
The man who hit Gina was not only drunk but driving on a suspended license in a borrowed car. The owner of the car also does not have insurance. Gina has a very long tough road ahead and really could use some help.
The photo below is before her first surgery.
You can follow Gina's facebook updates to see the up and downs on her road to saving her foot.
www.facebook.com/ginamariegarbero
Wound care is taking longer than expected and the doctors push back the date when she will walk again. The expenses are adding up while unable to work.
Right now they can't skin graft because there is not enough muscle and tissue to attach the skin to so for the next 5 to 6 weeks or so she has to patiently wait for muscle to regrow. During this time while the wound is open she is still at risk of infection. If for some reason that does happen, she could still potentially lose her foot.
Right now Gina is scared and alone and the bills are piling up. Any amount of generosity would be greatly appreciated. Her ability to do her job is gone. With wedding season approaching she is turning down work left and right which means clients who normally come to her for their photo needs will now be taking their business somewhere else.
She also had to refund a lot of money to clients for weddings booked for the summer.
WHAT THE MONEY WILL BE USED FOR:
I have rent on my home and my photography studio.
my phone and basic utilities at home.
I have a second photograhy studio but I will be putting a notice to vacate. There will be moving costs. I plan to put all of the items into 1 studio and just have it as storage until I can figure things out.
I will have pet care. 1 hour with a pet sitter in my home is $30. My cat is 15 years old and can't be around other animals.
I still don't know what is going on with my car but, it is a manual transmission so most likely I will need to sell it for an automatic. It was my left foot damaged and I don't think I will be able to drive much with this injury if I have to shift. My insurance so far is only offering me just under $4,000. I bought this car less than 6 months ago. I saved up $7500 for it and paid cash because I do not have good credit because of student loans so a new used car is going to be a huge expense.
There will be travel expenses once I am in the nursing home. I will need to go back and forth to the hospital.
Please Help!
ABOUT GINA:
"It's rare to spend a night out on the town in Chicago's Night Club industry scene without running into Gina.
She is one of the sweetest people you will meet in the industry. If you have spent any time in the night clubs in Chicago you probaby know her or at least have had your picture taken by her. Her dynamic imagery matches her personality. She has a special syle and if you see one of her vivid nightlife images on facebook or other socal midea you will know right away if Gina took it! We can't wait until Gina returns back to work. It's just not the same without her!"