Rebuilding After Addiction & Disability: Help Me Launch My Cookie Dream & Publish My Book

I never thought baking cookies would save my life...

Hi! I'm AJ!

I'm a 23-year-old trying to rebuild my life after surviving severe depression, addiction relapse, & chronic health challenges.

Last year, I moved to California for my first job out of college as a food & beverage manager in training. I had just gotten weight loss surgery and was excited to start fresh, but I was thrown into a toxic environment with no real training or support. The stress sent me into a mental health crisis. After a year and a half of sobriety, I ended up relapsing due to the stress of it all.

At the same time, I was battling multiple chronic health conditions including Klippel-Feil syndrome, Sprengel's deformity, facial paralysis, and mental health conditions. All while trying to hold down a demanding job, pursue grad school, train in bodybuilding, and start my business. Eventually, I broke down & tried to end my life.

Where I'm at now:

I quit my job before my one-year contract. I had to choose my life over everything else. I ended up hospitalized, $7,000 in credit card debt trying to survive, had a mental health episode, and in treatment. Today, I live in sober living housing while working hard every day on my recovery through therapy, medication, and spiritual work.

My Dreams: Cookies & My Book

Since I was a kid, baking cookies has always been my happy place. During my worst depressive & manic episodes, baking was one of the only things that kept me grounded. My dream is to launch a cookie business that spreads comfort & hope to people like myself: people fighting silent battles who deserve small moments of sweetness & joy. I've also been writing my autobiography, which is 2/3 of the way finished now, sharing my journey of trauma, addiction, near homelessness, and rebuilding. I want to inspire anyone who feels trapped in darkness to know they can fight their way back to light.

What I need help with

Right now, I am asking for $10,000 to:

Why this matters

I am not asking to be rescued. I'm asking for support to rebuild a life I can sustain, a life where I can work around my conditions and create something meaningful. I promise to use every dollar with full transparency, and I will post updates along the way to show your kindness in action, from finishing my book to launching my first cookie sales at farmers markets.

Your support will help me turn pain into purpose every cookie baked and every chapter published will be because you believed in me. If my story moves you, please donate or share this campaign. You might just be the reason I find my way back to light.

Autobiography Preview