Photo via gofundme.com
A GoFundMe page has been created to support two members of the Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services who were seriously injured in a crash earlier this week.
The page says Mya Nichols and Zoraiz Rehman were traveling southbound on Highway 62 after providing emergency coverage in Bancroft when their ambulance was T-boned by a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Highway 62 and Highway 7 in Madoc on February 2.
Mya, who was driving, took the full force of the impact on the driver’s side and was rendered unconscious at the scene, sustaining critical injuries. Zoraiz suffered severe injuries but was able to call 9-1-1 and ensure the two occupants of the tractor-trailer were safe before receiving care.
Emergency personnel responded quickly. Another HQPS crew, only five minutes behind them, and officers from the Ontario Provincial Police Central Hastings detachment were on scene immediately and called for additional emergency support, including ORNGE air ambulance. Both paramedics were transported to Belleville General Hospital, where they were stabilized before being moved to Kingston General Hospital for advanced trauma care.
As of February 4, Zoraiz has been discharged from the hospital but faces a long and difficult recovery, including multiple spinal fractures, internal injuries, and severe contusions. Mya remains in critical condition in the ICU, with multiple small brain bleeds that have stabilized. While the full extent of her injuries is still uncertain, she has already made meaningful progress, giving her family, friends, and colleagues hope.
The GoFundMe has been created with the full permission of both families to help offset the unexpected financial pressures resulting from the collision, allowing Mya and Zoraiz to focus on their recovery. All funds raised will be divided equally between them.
Organizers emphasize that Mya and Zoraiz are not only skilled paramedics but also extraordinary human beings who have devoted their careers to helping others — now the community has an opportunity to support them during this difficult time.
“Both Mya and Zoraiz are phenomenal paramedics. But more importantly, they are extraordinary human beings. They lead with compassion. They serve with integrity. They show up for strangers on the worst days of their lives without hesitation. They would both give the shirt off their backs to anyone in need — and countless times, they have. Now, it is our turn to show up for them.”
Anyone who can contribute financially is encouraged to do so, but sharing the fundraiser is also a meaningful way to help.
The GoFundMe, which has already raised over $150,000, can be found at: Now It’s Our Turn: Supporting Paramedics Mya & Zoraiz
