I never imagined I’d be in a position where I had to ask for help like this, but life changed very suddenly.

On Wednesday, January 28th, I was involved in a serious car accident while driving my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, a car I had purchased less than 70 days earlier. The vehicle had spent more than half of the time I owned it at the Volkswagen dealership due to safety system failures. I was told it was fixed and picked it up just over a day before the accident.

That accident left me hospitalized with a fractured vertebra and a broken sternum. I am in constant pain, and my recovery has been slower and more complicated than expected. I was even hospitalized a second time on February 5th after my initial concerns were not taken seriously.

Because of this, I have been out of work for over two weeks and counting. In that short time, I have already had to spend more than $2,000 just to survive, including medical related transportation, food, and basic necessities. Unfortunately, I only carried minimum state insurance at the time since the car had been in the shop for most of my ownership.

I am now left with:

• A $14,500 remaining car loan

• $885 to retrieve the car from the tow yard

• Ongoing storage costs because I cannot sell the vehicle without the title

• Rental cars, Ubers, and medical transportation

• Lost wages while recovering

The financial stress is starting to outweigh the optimism I have tried hard to keep. I am genuinely worried about being able to cover rent and basic living expenses while I heal.

If you are able to help in any way, whether by donating or sharing, please know it would mean more than I can put into words. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you are able to offer.