Hello!

My name is Nicoleta, I am a 22 year-old student from Romania who came to the United States for the very first time through the Work and Travel program, full of hopes to work hard and experience a new culture. I had only been working at a restaurant for two months when my life changed completely.

On the night of July 19, 2025, at around 11:45 PM, while I was riding my electric scooter home from work, I was hit by a car after entering the parking lot of my residential complex. The impact was so strong that I don’t remember the exact circumstances of the accident. The driver called 911 immediately, and I was rushed to the hospital.

I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 6 days, with life-threatening injuries, including:

• Major laceration of my left kidney

• Laceration of my right kidney

• Major laceration of my spleen

• Traumatic hemopneumothorax (severe lung injury)

• Multiple fractures of the left ribs

• Acute post-hemorrhagic anemia

• A chin laceration requiring stitches

During my hospitalization, I underwent several complex and life-saving procedures, including:

• Drainage of the left pleural cavity to remove blood and air surrounding my lung

• Fluoroscopy of the left renal artery and splenic arteries using contrast to identify internal bleeding

• Restriction (embolization) of the left renal artery and splenic artery with intraluminal devices to control internal hemorrhages

• Repair of facial skin, with external suturing of my chin

These procedures were essential to save my life, but they resulted in a hospital bill totaling over $360,000, an unimaginable amount for me.

I do have a medical insurance plan with a maximum coverage of $100,000, which will help reduce part of the total hospital bill. However, my medical costs have already far exceeded this amount, leaving me with expenses well beyond what my insurance can cover.

I am a student, far from home, with no family here to support me physically or financially. Due to my lung injuries, I am currently not allowed to fly home, and my recovery will take weeks or even months.

I am humbly asking for your help. Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to me. Your support will help cover:

• Part of my medical bills not covered by insurance

• Living expenses during my recovery

• Transportation for necessary medical follow-ups

• The costs of returning home safely when I am medically cleared to travel

I came here to work and grow, not to face such a tragedy. If you can donate, I would be forever grateful.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Nicoleta Pițulescu