Hi, my name is Tina Clinton, and I’m writing on behalf of my brother, Salvatore Daino — because he’d never ask for help.

Sal has always led a life of service: a military veteran, working with at-risk and homeless youth, a licensed massage therapist, and recently passed his National Registry EMT exam and started Advanced EMT training — working overnight shifts to pay for school during the day so he could reach his goal of becoming a Paramedic.

Then in November 2024, a driver ran a red light and hit Sal’s car. He wasn’t at fault — but his progress was derailed. What first looked like whiplash turned out to be a severe concussion /traumatic brain injury.

He developed dizziness, memory loss, tremors, persistent headaches, double vision, and difficulty speaking and processing information. A VA nurse urged him to seek further care, where doctors confirmed the TBI diagnosis.

Since then, Sal’s been in neurological and speech therapy. His memory and focus are slowly improving, but the progress is hard-won. He had to withdraw from Advanced EMT school — not because he wanted to, but because he physically couldn’t retain or absorb the material. He also missed nearly 700 hours of work, and when he returned, he struggled to keep up. He eventually had to resign.

He’s been working part-time where he can, but it’s not enough. Sal’s lucky in some ways — he gets most of his care at the VA Medical Center, something he’s deeply grateful for and never takes for granted. He knows not everyone has that kind of safety net.

He also doesn’t pay rent — but essentials like utilities, bills, groceries, and transportation are still piling up. He’s pursuing a legal settlement, but nothing can move forward until his treatment is complete. And right now, the gap between “getting better” and “getting by” is overwhelming.

Sal is eager to return to EMS, finish his Advanced training, and become a Paramedic —

If you’re able to give, thank you. If not, just sharing this campaign helps more than you know. And I promise — if Sal ever receives a settlement, he fully intends to pay forward every dollar he’s gifted with now. That's just who he is.

If you can give anything — or even just share this — I can’t thank you enough. This support will help Sal keep the lights on, get to treatment, and stay focused on healing instead of drowning in bills.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and help my brother get back to the life — and career — he was building with so much determination.

Tina