I have told this story a thousand times and it is vulnerable every time. At the age of 27, I was pregnant and preparing for my daughter, Aurora Sage. I moved from North Carolina to Colorado to be with my partner; we moved in together, and we began preparing for our lovely baby girl. However, our dream of a family was ended by violence.  A woman attacked me at 7 months pregnant when I came to her house responding to a Craigslist ad. She beat, stabbed, and strangled me into unconsciousness and then cut me from hip to hip, removing my unborn daughter as I bled out on her basement floor. The path of grief and loss and the recovery from this, physically, mentally, and emotionally, has been nothing short of Herculean.  Here is a news article about it:  <a href="https://www.thecinemaholic.com/where-is-michelle-wilkins-now/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.thecinemaholic.com/where-is-michelle-wilkins-now/</a> It has set in motion the quest to be a counselor and I'm well on my way towards achieving this goal. But the current reality of recovery, of the weight of grief and loss, while trying to acquire the skills to work and begin my career by being in graduate school is a big burden to bear, including financially.  I've not been able to see many of the wellness practitioners due to lack of funds which impacts my mental health. I am struggling to pay the bills and tuition.  I'm asking for help.    The money I am looking to raise will be put towards seeing mental and physical health practitioners, towards school, and towards the basic needs of living like gas, rent, food, and the essentials of living. I also welcome alternative ways of supporting this journey.  There have been opportunities to attend workshops, and offering dance and movement lessons and therapy (for personal and professional reasons as my training is in Somatic therapy).  I want to express gratitude for the generosity that has carried me to this moment in all forms; it cannot be understated how helpful it has been to focus on healing. I enjoy the process of learning something that will offer that to others that are in deep need of it.

Anonymous

Luka Božić

Lisa Stinson

Jessica Crenshaw

Pat Sheekey

Bisou Nours

Kristin Gregory

Lopa van der Mersch

Katey March

Jamie Solveson

Leyla Norman

Phyllis Kretsch

Ellie Wilkins - Help Me Heal

Ellie Wilkins - Help Me Heal

Still $1,466 to go. Help us build momentum.