My name is Mrs. Monika Vescovo, and I am raising funds for myself to cover one specific and essential requirement in my divorce appeal before the Fifth Court of Appeals. I am the only intended recipient of the donations, and they will be used exclusively for the preparation and purchase of the appellate reporter’s record and any directly associated court costs.

The funds will be delivered to me through GoFundMe’s secure withdrawal system, and once received, I will pay the court reporter and court clerks responsible for preparing the official transcript. No donations will be used for personal spending or unrelated expenses. The appellate transcript is mandatory for the court to review my case, and without it, the appeal cannot move forward.

I am sharing my story so donors and community members fully understand why I am asking for help and how critical this support is. Over the past year, I have endured profound personal loss and overwhelming hardship. I lost my sister to terminal cancer, and during the final months of her life, I was required to attend frequent court hearings connected to my divorce. Instead of spending peaceful time with her, I was repeatedly pulled into litigation, filings, and legal emergencies. My sister saw me at my lowest moments because the legal pressure continued even while she was dying. This is something I will carry with me forever.

At the same time, my stability collapsed. I was removed from my home, and the house I lived in was later sold and demolished. Someone else now occupies the future I thought I was building there. I also lost access to my only vehicle, which had been essential for my sister’s care and remains essential for my daily needs. I was separated from my dogs, who were my emotional support, and I lost access to personal property, including authenticated items I had hoped to liquidate to pay for the transcript. Without those belongings, I have no financial path toward funding the appellate record on my own.

These hardships did not happen in a vacuum. They are part of a long pattern of prolonged litigation, repeated filings, and intense financial strain that left me emotionally and financially depleted. My indigency was challenged even after I lost my home and transportation, and although the appellate court acknowledged that I cannot afford the record, I am still personally responsible for paying for it.

This fundraiser exists solely because the appellate court cannot review my case without the transcript. The donations will be used only for:

• payment to the court reporter for the appellate transcript

• any additional court fees directly tied to preparing the record

I am connected to my donors through family, friends, supporters in my community, and individuals who have followed my situation and expressed a desire to help. I am sharing the fundraiser through personal outreach and social media so people can understand the purpose and urgency behind this request.

I am asking for support because I cannot meet these court costs alone during such an emotionally fragile and financially depleted time. Access to the appellate system should not disappear because someone has lost their home, their stability, or their ability to pay.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for your compassion. And thank you for helping me take one step closer to having my appeal reviewed on its merits rather than lost due to financial exhaustion.

With gratitude and resilience,

Mrs. Monika Vescovo