On Saturday, August 2nd, my brother Jalen was involved in a devastating car accident after falling asleep at the wheel while driving home from work.

Jalen is one of the most hardworking and selfless people I know. As a traveling Sterile Processing Technician, he works night shifts at hospitals across Southern California. Currently, he’s been commuting from Palm Springs to Irvine for a demanding graveyard shift—10:00 PM to 6:30 AM—five to six days a week. He’s been pushing himself tirelessly to make ends meet, put food on the table, and keep a roof over his head.

Just a week before the accident, our mom, Rebecca, underwent emergency surgery to repair a hole in her diaphragm that caused her stomach to shift into her chest. Understanding the financial burden this placed on our family, Jalen didn’t hesitate. He picked up extra shifts to help cover her expenses while she recovered.

On the morning of August 2nd, after completing his sixth consecutive shift, Jalen fell asleep behind the wheel as he was re-entering Palm Springs. His vehicle clipped another car, crashed into a traffic light pole, and then flew off the road into the desert, landing on a rocky area.

Despite his critical condition, Jalen managed to call 911 before losing consciousness. When he arrived at the hospital, he was awake and aware but his injuries turned out to be far more severe than anyone expected.

Jalen suffered extensive internal bleeding in his abdomen and underwent an emergency five-hour surgery to locate and stop the bleeding. Surgeons had to remove parts of his colon and intestines to save his life. He also sustained a fractured hip from the impact. In addition, the trauma from the accident led to the development of a hernia, which will require future surgeries to repair. His car was completely totaled in the crash.

He has been hospitalized since August 2nd and, due to the severity of his injuries, there is no clear timeline for when he’ll be able to return home, let alone go back to work.

As his sister, I’ve created this GoFundMe to help ease the overwhelming financial burden he’s now facing—from mounting medical bills, future surgeries, to day-to-day living expenses while he recovers.

Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a difference. If you’re unable to give, simply sharing this page would mean the world to us. Your support, whether financial or emotional, will help Jalen focus on healing without the added stress of how he’ll stay afloat during this difficult time.

Thank you for standing with our family.

Jeanelle