On March 23, 2025, Nicole was given a second chance. While riding on an ATV in Pismo Dunes, she drove off a blind 20-foot cliff, fracturing her C5 vertebrae and breaking her neck. What was a fun ride in the dunes quickly became a life-or-death situation. She was airlifted to two different hospitals and had immediate surgeries. These seven-hour-long surgeries were life-saving but also life-crushing. The accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. After 25 days in the surgical ICU, she was transferred to Santa Clara Valley Medical in San Jose and placed in respiratory rehab. Nicole could not breathe on her own. But she’s a fighter, and after three months of being on the ventilator, she was able to learn to breathe on her own again!!! That’s a miracle in itself!! She’s also been able to regain some mobility in her arms. She’s yet to move her legs and fingers or have the ability to lift herself out of bed. She currently has very limited movement in her upper extremities, and while we do hope she gains it all back, it will take time. Every single spinal cord injury is different, but we remain hopeful that with hard work, Nicole will walk again!

Unfortunately, insurance covers practically nothing. Since being released from Valley Medical on August 8th, she has yet to receive a single session of physical therapy or occupational therapy! The first year of recovery is the most important, and this is something no one could ever plan for. Insurance has also failed to provide her with the basic necessities such as a proper hospital bed, bathroom commode, or shower chair, along with therapy and workout equipment for home use. The craziest part is that these items range from $5k-$15k per item, making the transition home a very difficult one. Nicole needs a full-time caregiver as well. We hope that will be covered by IHHS in the near future, but we are uncertain. All donations will go to get Nicole the equipment and care she needs.

For those that don’t know Nicole, she is a very determined young lady. Prior to the accident, Nicole was in an accelerated master's program in San Francisco. Her goal was to complete this master's program in business analytics before her 22nd birthday. When she was not in San Francisco for school or commuting back home to Salinas, she was working as a grocery store manager. She works for Grocery Outlet and has been off and on for the past five years.

We are asking for your love & support!!! With prayers and by donating or sharing Nicole’s story. Any contribution, no matter the size, will be so appreciated, and together we can make a meaningful impact in this sweet young girl's life.

A message from Nicole:

“This accident has mentally and physically changed my life and has caused havoc on more than just my own life. The direction which I thought I was going has completely changed. My life has been put on pause, and all I ask for is some help so I can get back to where I was and finish my degree. I wish to own my own Grocery Outlet and help others. While no two spinal cord injuries are alike, I wish to be a resource for those who were in my position and can feel helpless.”