I never thought I’d make a GoFundMe because if I’m being real, asking for help has always been hard for me. My pride has honestly kept me from doing this for a long time, but things have gotten to the point where I can’t keep pretending everything’s okay.

For those who don’t know me, I have sickle cell disease. It’s something I’ve lived with my whole life, and it affects almost every part of it. Between the pain crises, hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, and trying to keep up with everyday life, it gets exhausting. I’ve tried working, but it’s been really hard to keep a job because my health is unpredictable, and not every job understands what comes with having sickle cell.

Lately things have gotten even worse.

We already struggled with keeping the house afloat , and now Cincinnati got hit with flooding. Our basement is now covered in black mold and mildew, and it’s honestly scary. Living with sickle cell already comes with enough health issues, and now I’m worried about what breathing this stuff in could do to me too.

We’re trying to find a safer place to live, but moving isn’t cheap.

Another thing that’s been hard is transportation. I don’t have my own car, so I depend on my mom to take me everywhere. Doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, anything I need to do. She’s sacrificed so much for me over the years, and sometimes she’s had to miss out on work or other opportunities just to make sure I get where I need to be. Having my own reliable car would take so much weight off her shoulders and give me a little independence that I’ve honestly never really had.

Making this is embarrassing. I hate feeling like I’m asking people for money because that’s never been who I am. But I’ve realized there’s nothing wrong with admitting when you need help.

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, I completely understand. Even sharing this with someone else could make a huge difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting me and my family. It truly means more than I can put into words.