Help with Surgery, Stability, Avoiding Foreclosure

*zakat eligible*

My name is Noreen and I’m raising funds for myself to help with a surgery I need for my back and bills I’ve fallen behind on due to my injury. In the past 2 years, I have lost over $80,000 of my income due to the injuries I sustained in two separate car accidents.

A couple of years ago, I was finally doing somewhat better after going through marriage (my ex-husband got me in massive amounts of debt), divorce, and having back surgery in Dec 2021. Then I was rear-ended on 75 one morning in May 2023. I hurt my lower back again and had to cut back to working half the time. I’m self-employed so I don’t have any disability benefits. I managed to keep my head above water all those months until I was rear-ended again in Sept 2024. This car accident was worse, and now I have disc fragment(s) stuck in my nerves that affect my legs and urinary control. Yes, sometimes I do wet my pants as embarrassing as that is but I hope it helps you understand the severity of how badly my nerves are being compressed.

I haven’t been able to work since October 2024 and sub all of my work. The money I get from managing Airbnbs (roughly $800-1000 a month) has been enough to cover groceries and a couple of bills. Prior to the accident in Sept, I had started a side hustle, which is how I was just getting by. Since January, I haven’t been able to keep up with this side hustle since it requires me to lift. My pain levels have increased since Dec/Jan because I am depressed about my situation and gained about 30 lbs which adds pressure on my back. My mental health is suffering because of my injuries. I’m unable to afford a psychiatrist or a therapist. My house is a mess because I can’t clean at all. Anyone who knows me can tell you I like to work and be active. I like my space organized and clean. I like having a social life. My house is starting to look like an episode of Hoarders. I had to call a crisis hotline a few days ago because I was having a panic attack seeing how dirty my house. I never experienced a panic attack before these car accidents. I can hardly walk; I was admitted to the hospital in February because I collapsed and couldn’t walk at all. The paramedics had to crawl through my bedroom window to get me. I had to leave the hospital early because I couldn’t afford care for my dogs. I can only stand for a minute or two before I need to lay down again. My left hip all the way down to my toes feel like they’re constantly on fire. I can only sit in certain chairs and driving is hard too, so I only drive on the days I’m feeling better, which are few and far between. I have also been driving without car insurance so I limit my driving. Being unable to control my bladder is scary because that’s one of the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome and if untreated, cauda equina syndrome can lead to permanent paralysis. I DO NOT have cauda equina syndrome however the nerves being compressed are my cauda equina (the dangly part of our spines). I’ve become dependent on muscle relaxers, which make me drowsy so I spend most of my time laying in bed. Up until Nov I was taking adderall to offset the drowsiness but since I can’t afford to visit my doctor, I haven’t been able to get another refill for adderall. 

My water and gas were both shut off two weeks ago. I owe $4000 for the past year and a half to two years. They won’t put me on a payment plan since I kept defaulting. Fair enough. I am 10 payments behind on my mortgage. I was able to defer my mortgage payments due to job loss, but I have 2 months left on the program, and all payments will be due at once or they will start foreclosure. The amount I will is owe is $30,924. I do have an attorney for both car accidents. I have $80,000 in medical bills so far but I’m hoping I have something left to help cover my mortgage so I don’t end up in foreclosure. My medical bills have been so extensive. I was going to the chiropractor and doing acupuncture but my back started to feel worse. My doctor had me start PT, which hasn’t helped. I am hoping to see a new doctor who can refer me to a surgeon. I was just starting to rebuild my credit and pay down debt when I got injured again. Unfortunately, I’m in more debt now and my credit score has tanked. I appreciate anything you can contribute. Thank you.