John,

In 2005, Rosa Jimenez was sentenced to 99 years in prison for murder after a toddler she had been babysitting accidentally choked and tragically died. Like 75% of women exonerated in the last three decades, Rosa was wrongfully convicted of a crime that never occurred — it was a horrible accident. Her conviction was based on false medical evidence.

On Jan. 26, 2021, several of the nation’s top pediatric aerodigestive medical experts testified that medical findings supported that the child’s death was accidental, and the judge ruled that the new evidence established her innocence, recommended her conviction be overturned, and ordered her release.

Since then, Rosa has worked tirelessly to adapt to a new world and rebuild her relationship with her children. Her daughter was a toddler when she was arrested and her son was born while she was incarcerated and taken from her days after his birth. She recently sat down with Univision to talk about her first two years of freedom.

While Rosa is happy to be out of prison and able to spend time with her loved ones, she continues to shoulder the lasting effects of years of incarceration, including the advanced Stage 5 chronic kidney disease she developed in prison.

Just a year after her release, Rosa was forced to start dialysis, which she undergoes three times a week. She is one of the tens of thousands of people awaiting a kidney transplant.

So today, we’re reaching out to you to ask you to make a donation to Rosa’s personal fundraiser as she continues to fight for her life and beat this disease. Then, share Rosa’s story with your friends and family online, and encourage them to join you in donating.

Thank you so much for your support,

The Innocence Project Team