My name is Amie Wagner, and after years of trying to hold everything together, I’m reaching out for help to start over. In November 2023, I escaped an abusive living situation, hoping things would get better. Instead, it felt like everything began to unravel. My car died, which was my last source of peace and escape. I fell into a deep depression and needed medication to cope. In March 2024, I lost my job for the first time in my life, and unemployment barely covered my expenses. Without healthcare, I paid out of pocket for medical care, and moving, doctor’s visits, and unemployment drained my savings.
I found a new job as a Veterinary Practice Manager, but the company went under after a year, forcing me to dip into what little savings I had left. In July 2024, my best friend passed away in my apartment, and I spent what I could to honor her memory and fix up the place. The following year, I took a job that paid far less than I’d ever made in NYC, but I needed the health insurance. Then, in March 2025, my cat of 16 years, Carina, passed away, followed by my dog of 15 years in May. That same month, I suffered a severe injury—tearing my rotator cuff and bulging a vertebra, which left me in excruciating pain and unable to work. Medical leave only covered a fraction of my expenses, so I sold belongings and took on odd jobs just to get by.
As I was slowly healing, my grandfather’s health declined, and I made several trips to see him, piling up credit card debt. I even sold my land upstate—my biggest accomplishment—just to pay off some debt, but it wasn’t enough. In the past month, I fell down stairs twice, leaving me on crutches and missing work. The final straw came when a group of teens brought weapons into my laundromat, making me realize I was no longer safe in my neighborhood. On top of everything, my living situation has been unsanitary and unhealthy for almost two years, making it even more urgent for me to leave.
That’s when I reached out to friends upstate, and they offered me a spare room. I visited and knew it was where I needed to be. My last day in the city will be December 26th, and I’ll be moving on the 27th, hoping to find enough peace to want to keep going. I need help with moving fees, first month’s rent, and purchasing a reliable 4x4 vehicle to handle the upstate winters. I even considered selling my beloved piano, but a good friend reminded me how much I’ll need it for comfort and healing. If anyone knows me, they know I loathe asking for help because I’m hyper-independent and stubborn, just like my awesome grandfather. I’m just depleted and need help to make this move possible and to start over in a place where I can heal and rebuild my life.
I found a new job as a Veterinary Practice Manager, but the company went under after a year, forcing me to dip into what little savings I had left. In July 2024, my best friend passed away in my apartment, and I spent what I could to honor her memory and fix up the place. The following year, I took a job that paid far less than I’d ever made in NYC, but I needed the health insurance. Then, in March 2025, my cat of 16 years, Carina, passed away, followed by my dog of 15 years in May. That same month, I suffered a severe injury—tearing my rotator cuff and bulging a vertebra, which left me in excruciating pain and unable to work. Medical leave only covered a fraction of my expenses, so I sold belongings and took on odd jobs just to get by.
As I was slowly healing, my grandfather’s health declined, and I made several trips to see him, piling up credit card debt. I even sold my land upstate—my biggest accomplishment—just to pay off some debt, but it wasn’t enough. In the past month, I fell down stairs twice, leaving me on crutches and missing work. The final straw came when a group of teens brought weapons into my laundromat, making me realize I was no longer safe in my neighborhood. On top of everything, my living situation has been unsanitary and unhealthy for almost two years, making it even more urgent for me to leave.
That’s when I reached out to friends upstate, and they offered me a spare room. I visited and knew it was where I needed to be. My last day in the city will be December 26th, and I’ll be moving on the 27th, hoping to find enough peace to want to keep going. I need help with moving fees, first month’s rent, and purchasing a reliable 4x4 vehicle to handle the upstate winters. I even considered selling my beloved piano, but a good friend reminded me how much I’ll need it for comfort and healing. If anyone knows me, they know I loathe asking for help because I’m hyper-independent and stubborn, just like my awesome grandfather. I’m just depleted and need help to make this move possible and to start over in a place where I can heal and rebuild my life.
Organizer
