Full story below this summary
Our family faced a terrifying ordeal that left us financially devastated and struggling to stay stable. After being coerced into debt we never chose, we lost our home, our savings, and our peace of mind. We are rebuilding while caring for our children and recovering from serious health and financial challenges—any support gives us the space to breathe and move forward. Sharing our story helps just as much.
Full story below. Thank you for you kindness!
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Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,
A few years ago, while I was recovering after a work-related accident that put me through two years of rehabilitation — our family was pulled into a terrifying ordeal through no fault of our own. It began with misplaced trust in someone we believed we could rely on. That person was deeply indebted to dangerous, gang-affiliated individuals. To settle their own debts, they exploited our good credit by taking out large loans in our name.
When we discovered this and tried to stop it, the situation escalated rapidly. We were subjected to explicit threats of violence—directed at me, my partner, our child, and other close family members. Vehicles circled our home, and weapons were referenced. The danger was immediate and overwhelming.
Under extreme coercion and genuine fear for our lives, we were forced to “agree” to their demands. To protect our family and make the threats stop, we ultimately handed over everything we had.
We had worked hard to build a secure future—saving carefully for emergencies, our wedding (we are engaged and had dreamed of that day for years), and most importantly, our children’s future, education, and opportunities. In order to survive, we were forced to deplete every single krona of those savings. Years of effort and dreams vanished almost overnight.
We have upheld our end of that forced agreement ever since, including remaining silent when it mattered most, because the alternative would have put our lives at risk.
The consequences have been life-changing. The loans—taken under duress and totaling well over one million SEK—left us buried in debt we never chose, now amounting to around two million SEK. We lost the apartment we owned, and stable housing has been out of reach ever since. We own no furniture and are forced to rent second-hand, half-furnished apartments at significantly higher costs—often short-term and unpredictable. We essentially live out of our bags, never fully unpacking. Even our youngest daughter lost her preschool placement due to the constant instability.
The emotional and physical toll has been immense. My partner was already struggling with health issues and depression when this began. During the ordeal she became pregnant with our second child, endured a very difficult pregnancy, and suffered severe complications after birth. In late 2024, she experienced a lung infarction and blood clot. She is still recovering, unable to work, and must take prescribed medication for the rest of her life. Alongside these physical challenges, she also navigates neurodivergence and learning difficulties, which add another layer of daily struggle while she is unable to work.
The ripple effects continue to this day. I have always worked tirelessly to support our family—even holding two to three jobs at once before eventually securing a stable, well-paid position. Unfortunately, that company was later hit by severe budget cuts, and my entire department was shut down. Finding new work has been incredibly difficult. I’ve been turned down for roles I am overqualified for, even basic positions, and I lacked certain formal certifications required for jobs matching my experience. To break this cycle, I have recently begun higher vocational studies to become certified and open new doors. At the same time, the debt forced us to lose our car, making everyday life—from medical appointments and medication pickups to studies and childcare—much harder.
Today, we are a family of four in Sweden, doing everything we can to heal and move forward. The ongoing financial burden—debt repayments, medical costs, and unusually high housing expenses—means that after rent is paid, there is often very little left for groceries, utilities, or basic necessities. We are surviving, but without a safety net, and even small unexpected expenses can become overwhelming.
How your support would help
Donations would help us cover essential living costs while we work to regain stability, including:
- Reducing the remaining debt burden
- Groceries, utilities, bills, and basic household necessities
- Seasonal clothing for the children, especially during winter time
- Medical and therapy expenses
- Transportation and other day-to-day essentials (like a bus card for our eldest daughter so she doesn't have to walk between home and school through the Nordic blizzards)
- Creating a small emergency buffer for housing and family needs (including basic furniture and household items we’ve gone without)
- Providing small but meaningful joys for our children—such as bicycles, hobbies, and simple experiences that help them feel like kids again
This support would give us breathing room during a critical rebuilding period and help prevent further hardship as we continue moving forward.
Every contribution, no matter the size, truly makes a difference. Sharing our story helps just as much. We are deeply grateful to anyone who takes the time to read, support, or pass this along.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your compassion and kindness.
With deep gratitude,
A Grateful Swedish Family
Organizer
