On September 7th, my world changed in an instant.

I recently lost the love of my life, Laurie — my fiancé, my partner, my best friend. Her passing was sudden and unimaginable. I am still trying to understand how someone who filled every part of my world with warmth, laughter, and love could be gone without warning.

I am grieving not only Laurie’s beautiful presence, but the future we were building together — our plans, our home, and the life we dreamed of sharing.

Before I could even begin to completely process this heartbreak, another blow came. The property owner has chosen to renovate all the units to sell the home Laurie and I shared, and I am being forced to move. In the middle of deep grief, I now face packing up our life and finding a new place to live.

I have also had to travel out-of-state to honor Laurie and attend her services, along with managing post-death expenses. These unexpected costs have added financial and emotional strain at a time when I already feel stretched to my breaking point.

And as if that weren’t enough, I am also preparing for elbow surgery that was finally approved after a year of waiting while on workers' compensation. While I am grateful to finally receive the treatment I need, the timing adds another layer of difficulty — facing major surgery, recovery, and limited ability to work during an already devastating and unstable moment in my life.

On top of that, I am faced with something that breaks my heart all over again — having to temporarily foster or rehome our cats. Laurie loved them so deeply, and they were part of our family. Having to let them go, even for a time, feels like losing another piece of her.

I never imagined needing to ask for help, but right now I am struggling to navigate this loss alone. I am currently on workers’ compensation due to an injury, which has already made finances extremely tight. Losing Laurie — and now losing our home and the comfort of the life we built together — has left me overwhelmed emotionally and financially.

Your support will help with immediate needs, including:

I'm taking each day one breath at a time — holding onto the love Laurie gave me and trying to find my footing without her by my side.

If you are able to help — by donating or sharing — it would mean more than I can ever express. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me through this unimaginable chapter.