Because of the severity of the injury, Dawn will be unable to work for approximately 6–9 weeks following surgery, the length of her being out of work will be better determined once she has surgery next week. She has already been using her available paid time off and will exhaust those benefits by the end of this week. Without an income during her recovery, she is facing mounting expenses at a time when she needs to focus on healing. In the meantime, she is also using some 401K funds, but that doesn’t last long either.
In addition to lost wages, there are several urgent needs that have created significant hardship:
1. Transportation to and from medical appointments, physical therapy, and follow-up care, as she does not own a vehicle. She was in an unfortunate car accident this past January and insurance only covered what she still owed on it. So in the meantime, she is anticipating about two trips a weeks at $80 each round-trip for doctor and store visits, or around $1440. She has friends that are currently working to help her get another vehicle, but that will take time, and while she is recovering she will not be able to drive herself.
2. Meal assistance during recovery, including prepared meals that can be easily heated and eaten while she is unable to stand and cook for extended periods. Some meals will need to be shelf stable and microwaveable while she works to get both a temporary and more permanent refrigerator. She has 25 cans of ravioli right now getting her by. It is estimated that a small apartment-sized fridge could run around $300 and food costs for two months estimated for her and her animals to be around $1260. UPDATE: She now has a small apartment-sized fridge to get her by temporarily. THANK YOU Brian and Lindsay!!!!
3. A replacement refrigerator. Her current refrigerator is not working, making it difficult to store food safely. We hope to help her obtain a small refrigerator immediately and eventually replace it with a more permanent solution. A larger more permanent option will run around $1000.
4. A new water heater. Unfortunately, her water heater has also failed, leaving her without reliable hot water during a time when comfort and hygiene are especially important. She has already done her research and a new one will cost $1000 installed.
5. Assistance with everyday living expenses for both her and her animals while she is unable to return to work. She has mortgage and utility (water, gas, electric and trash) expenses that are anticipated to be around $1900 for two months.
Anyone who knows Dawn knows that she is independent, hardworking, and always willing to help others, in fact that is what she normally does for a living! Asking for help is not easy for her, but right now she is facing challenges that are simply too much to handle alone.
Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward helping her recover, maintain a safe living environment, attend her medical appointments, and keep essential household services running while she heals.
Additional Ways to Help:
In addition to monetary donations, gift cards and direct donations to Zelle or Venmo would be an incredible blessing to her during this difficult time. UPDATE: If you would like to send her a gift card, or a direct donation, Dawn’s Zelle, Venmo, and CashApp QR codes and information are now included on this post for those that would like to help her more directly and immediately.
Because Dawn does not have a vehicle and will be unable to drive while recovering from surgery, gift cards for ride services such as Uber or Lyft would help ensure she can get to medical appointments, physical therapy sessions, and other essential errands.
Gift cards for meal delivery services or contributions toward prepared meal programs, such as Meals on Wheels or the like, would also help provide nutritious, convenient meals while she is unable to stand for long periods or cook for herself. Since her refrigerator is currently not working, easy-to-access meals are also especially important until a replacement can be purchased.
Whether you choose to donate financially, send a gift card, send a direct donation to her via Zelle or Venmo, share this fundraiser, or simply keep Dawn in your thoughts, every act of kindness makes a meaningful difference and helps lighten the burden during her recovery.
If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and community. Your support and encouragement mean more than words can express.
Thank you for helping Dawn through this difficult chapter and giving her the opportunity to focus on what matters most: healing and getting back on her feet.
Life can change in an instant. Recently, our dear friend, Dawn, suffered a serious foot injury that will require surgery on June 10, 2026. What started as an unexpected accident has quickly become a financial and personal crisis.