Hi, my name is Kathleen, and I’m reaching out during one of the most difficult times in my life.

After more than 30 years as a full-time registered nurse—caring for others in hospitals while also running a small farm—I was forced to retire early due to serious medical issues. I hadn’t planned to stop working when I did. I wasn’t financially ready, and the transition to a fixed income was extremely hard. I sold most of my land, let go of my livestock, downsized to a modest modular home, and used my small 401(k) to pay off what I could. I truly believed I had set myself up to stay stable.

But unexpected costs quickly piled up—gaps in Medicaid coverage, expensive medications, worsening dental health, and a major increase in my homeowners insurance. Despite my best efforts to keep up, I fell behind. I took out a couple of payday loans to bridge the gap, thinking it was temporary. That only added more pressure.

Now, I’m facing the unthinkable: my home is in pre-foreclosure, and I have until August 24, 2025 to pay the arrears in order to stop the legal process. When the mortgage company sold my loan to another, my homeowner's insurance took the oppourtunity to re-rate the insurance and ask for $3500 up front, that they would not roll into the existing escow account. Why? I do not know. I just know, that it put me into pre-foreclosure.

Now, I’m facing the unthinkable: my home is in pre-foreclosure, and I have until August 24, 2025 to pay the arrears in order to stop the legal process. The amount due to the attorney handling the foreclosure is approximately $8,500. I also need to resolve two urgent payday loans, totaling around $3,500, which are threatening my ability to pay basic monthly expenses.

My fixed income can cover my normal monthly bills—mortgage, car, insurance, utilities, and groceries—but not the burden of these overdue amounts. I’ve sought help through credit counseling and am trying to access support for my mental health and medical care. However, I am still left in the lurch where dental care is concerned. There simply is no help for dental care for Seniors in the US on disability. This leaves me with 8 teeth, which have already put me in the hospital with sepsis once, and a projected bill of 12k for dentures. I just need the $1k to get them pulled at this point so I don't go into the hospital again.

I’m doing everything I can. Asking for help is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But I’m doing it now because I want to keep my home—my last piece of stability. If you’re able to contribute, or even just share my story, it would mean the world to me. Truly.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.

With gratitude,

Kathleen