Hi, my name is Mary, and I’m writing this with a heart full of anxiety, love, and hope—because asking for help is something I truly don’t like to do.

Our family has been hit hard by a series of unexpected challenges this past year, and we’re doing everything in our power to hold it all together. Shawn found out through an emergency situation early in 2025 that he has a degenerative blood clot condition that’s required a lot of medical attention—urgent care visits, specialists, potential upcoming surgeries, and follow-ups—which has led to lost work hours and overwhelming stress. He’s also dealing with other health issues like a partially torn rotator cuff and frozen shoulder that have added to making word and life more difficult.

We’ve been delivering DoorDash around the clock, squeezing in shifts whenever we physically can just to bring in a little extra income. We’ve also withdrawn money from our retirement accounts, trying to stay afloat—but it’s not enough. We’ve reached out for county resources, but unfortunately, those doors haven’t opened for us. We are desperately avoiding asking for loans because we don’t want to be further indebted, which would just perpetuate the cycle.

Now we’re facing possible eviction, struggling to afford daycare so we don’t lose our jobs, and in desperate need of a reliable vehicle for Shawn to continue making it to medical appointments. The weight of it all is crushing—but the hardest part has been trying to protect our kids from it.

Our children, Kieran and Cam, are our whole world. We’ve done everything we can to keep them shielded from the stress and uncertainty—but Kieran is starting to notice. It’s heartbreaking.

We’re turning to ask for help because we’ve exhausted every option. Your support will go toward:

• Rent, utilities, and putting meals on the table while we work harder than ever to make ends meet

• A reliable vehicle to get Shawn to appointments and help with daily life

• Childcare to keep our jobs and give our kids stability

• Medical expenses and lost wages

We’re not asking for luxuries—just the basics to help us breathe again. If you’re able to give, we are deeply grateful.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your kindness. And thank you for being part of the village that helps carry us through.