Hi everyone,

I’m creating this GoFundMe on behalf of my dear friend, Dr. Samia La Virgne—a gifted artist, educator, and deeply loved member of her community.

Samia currently lives in the United Kingdom, where she has built a beautiful life through dedication, resilience, and hard work. She earned her Master’s degree, went on to complete her PhD, and is now a lecturer in Acting and Performance Making in the Drama and Theatre Arts Dept. at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she pours her passion into educating and uplifting the next generation of artists.

Recently, Samia returned to the United States to honor the life of her beloved uncle who passed and to reconnect with her family. During this emotionally heavy visit, Samia experienced a serious and unexpected fall. While we are incredibly grateful that the situation was not worse, the accident resulted in significant injuries to her mouth and teeth, requiring urgent and extensive dental care.

As a result of the fall, Samia has suffered multiple large fractures in her teeth that are not readily visible to the naked eye, along with extreme nerve damage, numbness, and loss of feeling. She has also developed a tooth infection as a direct result of the trauma. Since the accident at the end of September, Samia has been on a soft-food diet—she is unable to bite into food and can only chew on one side of her mouth, which has significantly impacted her daily life, comfort, and ability to fully focus on her work and well-being.

The dental work required is extensive and time-sensitive. Samia needs three root canals, composite bonding to repair chipped teeth, and dental overlays to reinforce the fractured teeth and prevent further damage. Due to the extent of the injuries, Samia will need to be sedated for most of the procedures as well. Unfortunately, NHS dental care is not available for this level of treatment, meaning all procedures must be paid for out of pocket.

The total cost of this essential care is approximately $5,000, and the work needs to be done sooner rather than later to prevent additional tooth infections, which could lead to far more serious medical complications if left untreated.

Anyone who knows Samia knows that she is someone who gives endlessly—to her students, her community, and the people she loves. She shows up with generosity, integrity, and care. This moment is an opportunity for us to show up for her.

Funds raised through this GoFundMe will go directly toward:

• Three root canals to address nerve damage and infection

• Composite bonding to repair chipped teeth

• Dental overlays to stabilize and reinforce fractured teeth

• Medical recovery and aftercare during her healing process

Any contribution—no matter the size—means more than words can express. And if you’re unable to donate at this time, sharing this page is also an act of support we deeply appreciate.

Thank you for taking the time to read Samia’s story, for holding her in your thoughts, and for helping us surround her with the same love she gives so freely to others.

With gratitude,

LeRoy

P.S.: Please feel free to contact Samia directly if you have any questions or would just like to check in on her well-being.