Hi, it’s me, Samantha.

Most of you already know what’s been going on, but for anyone who doesn’t, here’s the short version.

I’m a Canadian who was living and working in the U.S. on a work visa. After a couple of roles that weren’t the best fit, I thought I finally found the right one. Unfortunately, things took a turn, and I ended up in a very difficult situation with the owner of the company. I wasn’t left with much choice but to resign, and because my visa was tied to my employment, everything unraveled very quickly.

To get back to Canada, I’ve had to sell nearly everything I own for pennies on the dollar. On top of that, I had just put a lot of money into necessary repairs on my car and was trying to catch up on medical bills, so when this happened, I didn’t have any savings left to soften the blow. The timing is also tricky with the holidays approaching.

I’m not someone who typically asks for help, and whenever I have borrowed in the past, I’ve always paid it back. So creating this GoFundMe is very new for me and definitely outside my comfort zone. But I’ve heard the saying, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no,” so here I am.

My goal is simply to cover the basics for December and January — essential bills, food, and the minimum I need to get stabilized once I’m home. If you feel called to contribute, even $5 or $10, I’m incredibly grateful. Your kindness truly means more than you know.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being here.