Hello, my name is Christine.
On June 22, 2026, my life was turned upside down in a way I never could have prepared for. I was driving home from school on SR‑33 near Ojai, heading north in the fast lane. Another vehicle was beside me in the slow lane. We were side‑by‑side, they saw me but still drifted directly into my lane.
I honked again and again as they kept pushing into me. I tried to accelerate to get out of their way, but they continued moving over until they struck my rear quarter panel on the passenger side.
The impact sent my car into a violent spin. I spun four full times before the car lifted off the ground and rolled down the embankment. It flipped about five times and dropped roughly 75 feet. I remember the chaos, the crushing metal, the shattering glass, the feeling of being thrown over and over, and the terrifying moment I realized I might not survive.
When the car finally stopped, I somehow crawled out of the wreckage. Injured, shaking, and in shock, I climbed back up the hill to get help. I was taken to Ventura County Medical Center’s Trauma Care. I’m grateful to be alive, but the aftermath has been devastating.
My car was destroyed. It was my only transportation for work and school.
I work as a home health care provider. My patients are high‑risk individuals who depend on me every single day. They rely on me to show up, and right now, I can’t. I’ve already missed over a full week of income. If I can’t get back to work by next week, I’m at serious risk of losing my job. If I lose my job, I lose my income. If I lose my income, I lose my housing. Everything is connected, and everything is at risk.
I’m also in my final year of undergraduate classes before transferring to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Missing school puts my education, and the future I’ve worked so hard for, in jeopardy. I’ve fought for years to get here, and now everything is hanging by a thread because I don’t have a car.
I’ve been approved for financing on a used vehicle, but I need help with the down payment and basic living expenses while I’m unable to work. That’s why I’m asking for $4,500. This amount will allow me to secure the car, cover the income I’ve already lost, and keep me stable long enough to return to work and school before everything collapses.
I’m being completely honest: I am desperate. I need help. If I don’t get back on the road soon, I could lose my job, my education, and lose my housing. I’m trying to hold everything together, but I can’t do this alone.
Any amount helps, truly. Even $5 makes a difference. And if you can’t donate, please share this so it reaches more people. Sharing is just as important as donating.
Thank you for reading my story, for caring, and for helping me fight for my life, to keep my life from falling apart.