Heat, Health & Housing: Help Us Stay Safe This July

What we escaped: An RV in the Arizona desert. 110+° heat. No air conditioning.

We almost didn’t make it.

Hi, I’m Shannon — and my little family (my husband, our adult son, and our beloved pets) has been through hell this year.

That RV — basically an oven on wheels — was our only shelter for weeks. I have heat-triggered seizures, and I nearly collapsed several times. My husband is battling a splenic infarct, gallstones, and diabetic gastroparesis. The stress and heat pushed his pain to the edge of unbearable. He’s been in screaming agony, and we’ve taken him to the ER six times in the last month.

Local shelters won’t take us in together, and they don’t allow pets. For us, being separated isn’t safe — and abandoning our cats isn’t an option. They’re part of our family.

The good news?

We finally made it into a hotel. We’re inside. Cool. Safe.

But we're hanging by a thread.

We need $1,000 to stay through the rest of July.

That covers the room. That’s all.

Anything extra would go toward food, prescriptions, and pain relief (we’re both hoping to get medical marijuana cards soon — it would make a huge difference for both of us).

What’s ahead:

✅ I’ll be filing our taxes this month (expecting a refund)

✅ We’re eligible for a stimulus credit (just need a notary)

✅ In September, I’ll be driving for Uber Eats — my son will come with me as a go-fer so I can stay in the air-conditioned car

✅ By then, we’ll be okay — really okay

We just need to make it through July.

TL;DR:

Disabled couple + adult son + pets

Escaped a deadly RV situation in the desert

Now in a hotel, but barely hanging on

$1,000 = survival

More = meds, food, basic comfort

September = independence

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.

If you can donate or share, it would mean everything.

Every little bit brings us closer to breathing room — and stability.

With deep gratitude,

Shannon

(plus husband, son, and two very relieved cats)

Our poor cats were panting like dogs in that RV—it broke our hearts. Too hot to eat or play. Now that they have food, air, and softness, they’re finally themselves again.