Valeria is only 22 years old, but a devastating traffic accident in Australia has changed her life and that of her family in a matter of seconds. She is currently in the intensive care unit in Perth with a severe traumatic brain injury and remains in an induced coma. Her condition is still extremely serious, and doctors estimate that she may need at least six months to a year of hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Her family and friends are now facing an enormous emotional and financial challenge. We are asking for support so that her parents can remain by her side and focus on their daughter’s recovery without being overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing costs associated with her treatment and their extended stay in Australia.
Those who know Valeria know how difficult it is to describe her in only a few words. She is joyful, generous, hardworking, and full of dreams. She has always approached life with courage and optimism, willing to step outside her comfort zone because she believes that some of life’s greatest experiences are waiting on the other side of fear.
Valeria was born in Madrid into a Colombian family. When she was only 12 years old, financial difficulties forced her family to move to Colombia. Two years later, they returned to Spain and settled in Bilbao, where Valeria built an important part of her life and developed friendships that remain close to her today.
After graduating in Biotechnology in Barcelona, Valeria decided to pursue another of her dreams: traveling, discovering the world, and learning more about herself. She first lived in New Zealand and later obtained a visa to Australia, where she began another exciting chapter of her life.
In Australia, Valeria worked in several different jobs, including as a waitress, kiwi fruit picker, bicycle delivery rider, and, most recently, at a dairy products factory. She never shied away from hard work and consistently faced new challenges with determination and a positive outlook.
Tragically, Valeria did not have medical insurance when the accident occurred. Because of the seriousness of her condition, an application has been submitted to the Government of Western Australia requesting assistance with her hospital expenses. However, the family has not yet received any guarantee that those costs will be covered.
While they wait for a decision, the medical expenses continue to grow. After only 16 days in hospital, the bill had already exceeded 83,000 Australian dollars, and the amount is expected to continue increasing for as long as Valeria remains hospitalized.
The medical costs are only part of the financial burden facing the family. Her parents have had to travel urgently to Australia and now need to pay for accommodation, transportation, food, and other essential expenses while remaining close to their daughter.
Their lives and work have also been disrupted as they stay in Australia to support Valeria through this critical period. What was once a distant dream of travel and personal growth has suddenly become a long and uncertain medical journey in which the family’s only priority is keeping Valeria surrounded by love and support.
That is why we have created this fundraising campaign. Every amount raised will be used to help Valeria’s family cover the medical expenses and the costs associated with remaining in Australia while she undergoes treatment, hospitalization, and rehabilitation.
The funds are intended to ease some of the immediate financial pressure and allow her parents to concentrate on what matters most: being there for their daughter during the months ahead.
Any contribution, regardless of size, can make a meaningful difference. A small donation can become part of a much larger effort when many people come together to support one family during an unimaginable crisis.
For those who are unable to donate, sharing the campaign can be equally valuable. Reaching another person, organization, or community that may be able to contribute could help the family manage expenses that continue to increase every day.
Sandra, Valeria’s mother, will receive the funds raised through the campaign and use them to help support Valeria’s medical care and the family’s needs during this difficult period.
Valeria has always been the kind of person who reached out first whenever someone else needed help. She has spent her life offering kindness, courage, and encouragement to the people around her. Today, it is Valeria who needs that same support from all of us.
Her recovery is expected to be long and challenging, but the family remains hopeful and determined to give her every possible opportunity to heal.
The fundraising goal may continue to increase because the family is still waiting for an answer regarding whether Western Australia’s insurance or government authorities will cover some or all of the hospital costs. Until that decision is known, they are trying to raise as much as possible to help sustain Valeria’s treatment and reduce the financial pressure on her parents.
Our hope is simple: to make sure Valeria’s family can remain by her side for as long as she needs them without having to choose between being present for their daughter and meeting the enormous financial costs of her care.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who donates, shares the campaign, sends a message, or keeps Valeria and her family in their thoughts.
Every act of support brings them one step closer to getting through this difficult journey and, ultimately, bringing Valeria home.
