I’ve spent the last few years surviving back-to-back crises that changed every part of my life. I’m a mother of three who has lived with long COVID complications,  Occipital Neuralgia, lymphomas, unexplained loss of full hand functions, chronic pain, constant daily flu like symptoms, chronic diabetes, and cognitive challenges that have made daily life a battle.. 

I’ve had to navigate this while also breaking free from a relationship layered in abuse that added emotional trauma to everything I was already enduring. This was my first relationship since ending a  15 year marriage, that included custody battles and all during a global pandemic.

In August 2024, things reached a breaking point when we lost our new home when I secured the lease and the landlord changed the terms and held the money longer than agreed too. This caused us to spend over 80 days living in a hotel, trying to keep life as normal as possible for my children while continually searching for housing. I didn't know how I was going to afford my normal expenses along with the unexpected hotel costs.

We finally moved into a home, but the financial strain of homelessness didn’t end when we got the keys. We are still recovering financially and we still need furniture and reliable transportation. I can't afford the ongoing medical care and had to put on hold because I can’t get there. I've missed important appointments and have paused things like occupational therapy for my hands which are getting worse.

I am currently on medical leave from work due to my mental health. When I return next month, I desperately need support so I don’t fall behind and lose our home again. I’m trying to rebuild our life while keeping my health from declining, but it is overwhelming on my own. With very little resources for the medically ill, middle class. 

I feel without community I am going to fail as I am barely hanging on. I have wrote hundreds of letters to organizations and churches seeking help. Even if I had a savings nothing would have prepared me for this hardship. Getting help from this program would give me a lifeline to maintain stability, keep us housed, help with transportation, and allow me to attend the medical appointments I’ve been forced to sacrifice. It would  give me the chance to truly recover from the trauma and hardship we’ve endured.

I’m not asking for an easy path, just a chance to stay on my feet after a season that nearly took everything from us. Outside of my full time job, I try to inspire others through my adversity. I have gone to school and I make a decent wage, but with the rising cost of things and my situation, I am mentally, financially, and physically depleted.  I want to continue healing, working, and providing the secure, peaceful life my children deserve. With the community’s help, we can finally move forward. Thank you.