Model fundraises for medical bills after car accident left her unable to walk

The 21-year-old was a passenger in her friend's car when it crashed

Christine Ilieva may never walk again (Instagram)

A model is appealing to strangers for help so she can afford surgeries that will make it possible to walk again - after a horrific car accident left her hospitalised.

Prior to the accident, Christine Ilieva, from Sofia, Bulgaria, was on the path to becoming a well-known model. With modelling contracts with agencies around the world and appearances in big-name brand advertisements, the 21-year-old was living her dream.

But at the beginning of March 2018, while home in Bulgaria, she was involved in a car accident that left her “in a life-or-death situation for days.”

According to a GoFundMe account created by her friend, Delly Allen Dobreva, Ilieva’s legs were severely injured in the accident.

Despite numerous operations and skin grafts, the model, who fractured her pelvis and legs, tore muscle fibres, and lost skin, may never be able to walk again.

Since the accident, Ilieva has been transported to Yeditepe University Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, after a month of unsuccessful treatments in a Bulgarian hospital, according to Dobreva.

There, Ilieva’s treatment will continue.

So far, her family has paid over €70,000 (£61,380) towards her medical bills but they expect the additional costs for her treatment will exceed €65,000 (£56,998).

Because GoFundMe does not support Bulgarian bank accounts, Dobreva has stepped in to help her friend’s family raise money for their daughter’s treatment.

According to Dobreva, the accident left her friend emotionally and physically scarred.

“Christine’s condition is not only physically but also psychologically bad and we will be extremely grateful if you help us bring her back to normal life,” she wrote. “Her biggest wish right now is to be able to ‘tie her shoes on her own and take a shower standing up.’”

Of the £57,000 goal, the fundraiser has raised over £2,935 in just four days.

You can donate here.