Hello, my name is Nilgün. I am 30 years old and I am an English teacher from Turkey.

On September 3, 2025, my life changed forever. I was shot three times by my father because I did not obey his rules. This is very painful to share, but it is the truth of what I went through.

After the attack, I underwent 10 surgeries and spent about one and a half months in the hospital. Despite all the efforts of the doctors, I developed a severe infection, and my leg had to be amputated.

Since then, everything in my life has become much harder. As a person with a disability, it is now very difficult for me to work and support myself.

I am currently taking care of around 50 cats. They depend on me for food, shelter, and medical care. Many of them have no one else in this world. They are my responsibility, but also my biggest source of strength.

Right now, I am facing another urgent challenge. My landlord wants me to leave the house, and I am at risk of becoming homeless together with my cats. My biggest goal is to find a safe home where I can continue to care for them.

After my amputation, a community from the United States kindly agreed to cover the cost of a basic prosthetic leg. I am deeply grateful for this support. However, this prosthetic is only at a beginner level.

My goal is to be able to live independently again—to move faster, to be more functional, and even to run if possible. For this, I need a more advanced prosthetic leg, which I cannot afford on my own.

I am raising funds for:

• A more functional prosthetic leg to regain my independence

• A safe home for me and my cats

• Food and medical care for my cats

• Basic living expenses during this difficult time

I truly need your help to continue. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a real difference in my life and in the lives of my cats.

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing my story. That alone could help me reach someone who can.

Thank you for reading my story and for standing with me during this difficult time.

With love,

Nilgün ❤️

A note from the organizer:

I’m Catherine, a close friend of Nilgün’s who lives in the United States. Nilgün is in Turkey, where people cannot create or receive funds directly through GoFundMe, so I am launching this fundraiser on her behalf. I will receive the donations into my personal bank account, then send the full amount to Maya via Venmo, who will wire transfer it to Nilgün in Turkey through Wise. Every dollar raised will go to Nilgün, and nothing will be kept for personal use.