*zakat eligible*

My name is Noreen and I’m raising funds for myself to help with a surgery I need for my back, care post surgery, and bills I’ve fallen behind on due to my injury. In the past 2 years, I have lost over $80,000 of my income due to the injuries I sustained in two separate car accidents.

A couple of years ago, I was finally doing somewhat better after going through marriage, divorce, and having back surgery in Dec 2021. My back was perfect. Then I was rear-ended on 75 one morning in May 2023. I hurt my lower back again and had to cut back to working half the time. I’m self-employed so I don’t have any disability benefits. I managed to keep my head above water all those months until I was rear-ended again in Sept 2024. This car accident was worse.

I haven’t been able to work since October 2024 and sub all of my work. The money I get from managing Airbnbs (roughly $800-1000 a month) has been enough to cover groceries and a couple of bills. Prior to the accident in Sept, I had started a side hustle, which is how I was just getting by. Since Dec/January, I haven’t been able to keep up with this side hustle since it requires me to lift. My pain levels have increased since Dec/Jan. My mental health is suffering because of my injuries. I’m unable to afford a psychiatrist or a therapist. My house is a mess because I can’t clean at all. I had to call a crisis hotline a few days ago because I was having a panic attack seeing how dirty my house. I never experienced a panic attack before these car accidents. I can hardly walk; I was admitted to the hospital in February because I collapsed and couldn’t walk at all. The paramedics had to crawl through my bedroom window to get me. I had to leave the hospital early because I couldn’t afford care for my dogs. I can only stand for a minute or two before I need to lay down again. My left hip all the way down to my toes feel like they’re constantly on fire. I can only sit for a couple of minutes so driving is hard too. I only drive if I absolutely have to but I have also been driving without car insurance so I limit my driving. I’ve become dependent on muscle relaxers, which make me drowsy so I spend most of my time laying in bed. Up until Nov I was taking adderall to offset the drowsiness but since I can’t afford to visit my doctor, I haven’t been able to get another refill for adderall. 

I do have an attorney for both car accidents. I have $100,000 in medical bills so far and unfortunately there isn’t enough personal injury coverage to cover medical bills, surgery, and physical therapy without health insurance.

The money I raise will help towards daily living expenses and bills, hiring someone to help me in my house with things like cleaning, putting away groceries, feeding my pet, laundry, making my bed, etc, and most importantly towards the amount I’m falling short for my surgery and physical therapy and post surgery care since I live alone. After getting a fusion, I won’t even be able to flush the toilet for some time.

I appreciate anything you can contribute. This is a really embarrassing situation for me because I’ve been working since I was 13 years old and have been blessed enough my entire life to never be in a situation like this. Since I am my only source of income, I have nobody else to fall back on. Thank you.