Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Christiana Means is seeking financial help to get her knee operated on as soon as possible.

Means, who won the gold medal in the women’s park and two silver medals in the women’s street and game of skate in the 30th SEA Games in Manila, said in a lengthy social media post that she has already exhausted all other options and is now seeking financial help for her surgery.

She has multiple meniscus tear, medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear and an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The Filipino-American skateboarder last competed in the 2024 X-Games in Ventura, California where she finished 14th in the women’s skateboard street.

“Nine months ago, I tore my meniscus + sprained my MCL skating. I tried everything — rest, physio, rehab — thinking I was healing…Turns out my ACL graft had failed and was slowly tearing the whole time,” Means said.

“My latest MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed no functioning ACL, multiple meniscus tears, and ongoing MCL damage. Surgery is no longer optional, it’s now critical.”

Means is now asking for donors to help fund her knee surgery.

“I’ve paid for multiple MRIs, physical therapy sessions, and specialist appointments — all out of pocket. I’ve tried for months to get insurance help — no one will cover it. I’m out of options,” Means said.

“I’ve tried to handle it privately and independently for as long as I could but I’ve hit the wall financially and emotionally.”

Those who would like to reach out can do so by donating to her GoFundMe page, which can be found on her social media page.