On December 22, 2023, what should have been an ordinary day turned into a life-altering nightmare for 16-year-old Makayla Mullins. 🌧️

A crash left her vehicle submerged — and Makayla trapped inside. For nearly ten unimaginable minutes, she remained underwater before rescuers could reach her. ⏳💦 Those minutes changed everything.

She survived.
But survival came at a devastating cost.

Today, Makayla faces a lifetime of complex medical care. 🏥 From neurological challenges to intensive rehabilitation, her road ahead is not measured in weeks or months — but in years. Her family has become her full-time caregivers, advocates, and unwavering support system. ❤️

Investigators later revealed the driver responsible was her stepfather, Ryan McCue, who had been driving under the influence. Instead of staying to help, he fled the scene. 🚨 He was later arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison. ⚖️

For Makayla’s loved ones, the sentence does little to ease the daily reality they now live. The emotional trauma of that night lingers, but so do the overwhelming financial burdens — hospital bills, specialized therapy, adaptive equipment, and long-term care needs. 💸

In response, family and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign, hoping the community will rally around Makayla the way first responders did that night. 🤝✨

Her story is not only about a tragic decision made behind the wheel. It is about resilience. It is about a teenager fighting to reclaim pieces of the life she once knew. 🌅

Ten minutes underwater.
A lifetime to recover.

And a community being asked to help her breathe a little easier again. 🕯️💙