Hello sweet friends,

I’m reaching out today with deep vulnerability to ask for help. Last month, immediately following Mother’s Day, I suddenly lost the business space I’ve occupied for five and a half years, and with it, my only source of income. I was forced to close my business with no time time to find a new location.

Worse, while moving out I injured my back and have been out of commission ever since, unable to do even simple things like wash my hands or prepare food without extreme difficulty and pain.

Even more challenging, the back injury triggered recurrence of another, potentially life-threatening chronic condition that required intervention and derailed my healing from the back injury. With help I did survive the serious complication, but now I’m on bedrest for my back, unable to stand for more than a few minutes.

After more than five years of sacrificing everything and spending nearly every waking moment working to keep my business going—single-handedly since the end of 2021—surviving countless un-survivable hardships during the pandemic and its aftermath—with no relief assistance—even being nearly unable to walk for much of 2023 & 2024, and too many more hardships to count, I find myself today in need of asking for help, which I’m not very good at. It’s nearly impossible for me, but I’ve been advised and encouraged by dear friends that this can help.

With so much happening around the world and around our country, I’ve been incredibly blessed so far and I am so grateful for friends and even strangers who have helped me during some very difficult challenges in recent weeks.

Right now I’m asking for donations in urgent need of help to cover very basic needs—food, utilities, rent, caring for my cat Elvis, bills, car repairs—while I work to recover my health and rebuild my life from this sudden devastation.

Any amount helps. Truly.

Thank you for reading and thank you so much for helping.✨