Our Story: A Journey of Resilience and Community

On November 17th, our lives changed drastically in the blink of an eye. While driving to the motor vehicle agency to renew her registration, my mom swerved through multiple lanes to avoid an obstruction on the highway and crashed into a tree. She was found unresponsive, lying across the passenger seat, unable to move. The ambulance rushed her to the hospital, where she was immediately taken to the ICU.

That day, I had decided to join my coworkers for happy hour at a local restaurant. As I drove there, I received two calls from an unknown number. After arriving and settling in, I noticed another missed call from my brother and a text message that read, "Mom’s at the hospital. She was in a car accident and the doctors say it was really bad. They think she may be paralyzed." I rushed out of the restaurant and made it to the hospital within five minutes. There, we faced the life-changing decision for my mother to undergo spinal cord surgery.

My mom stayed in the ICU for four days before being transferred to a regular floor for an additional week and a half. She was then moved to a rehabilitation facility at JFK Edison, where she spent another two months. Since late January, she has been home, and we continue to work on her progress. I have decided to be her full-time caregiver, a role that is both challenging and rewarding as I help the woman who raised my brother and me as a single mother.

Before the accident, my mom had just retired at 63 after over 30 years as a special education teacher. She was a pillar of her family and community, serving as an active founding member and deacon at her church. She supported my brother and me, upheld our family traditions by hosting holidays at her house, and was an engaged grandmother to my niece. Her strength and dedication inspired me to create this organization, enabling her to continue giving back to her community and connect with individuals in similar situations.

Welcome, and thank you for reading her story. Together, we can build a supportive community and honor the incredible spirit of those who continue to inspire us every day.

-Dominique M.

Liz’s daughter & Founder LHH