In a split second, my world turned upside down. Last night, I was in a serious car accident. Six out of eight airbags deployed, and my car, the one I rely on every single day, is completely totaled. I’m incredibly grateful to be alive, but now I’m facing something just as scary: trying to survive without the one thing that keeps my life moving.

I am a single mother raising four amazing children. Christian is 14 and recovering from double knee surgery, Cadence is six, autistic, and nonverbal, Jade is four and has autism, and Onyx is two and also has autism. My days revolve around getting them to therapies, appointments, and school, things they truly depend on for their growth and well-being. That car wasn’t just transportation, it was how I showed up for them every single day.

It’s also how I made a living. I do DoorDash to bring in money daily, to keep food on the table and cover the constant needs that come with raising a family. Without a vehicle, that income is gone overnight. No warning. No backup plan. I could only afford liability insurance, so there’s no help coming to replace what was lost.

Right now, I’m not asking for help to replace the car. I’m asking for help to get through this moment, to make sure my kids can still get where they need to go, to keep food in our home, and to hold things together during a time that already feels so uncertain. If you’ve ever been in a place where everything felt like it could fall apart in an instant, then you understand how hard it is to ask for help like this.

If you’re able to help us get through this, it would mean the world to my family. Anything, absolutely anything, helps us right now, whether it’s a donation, a share, or even just a kind word. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading our story and caring enough to be here. — Ashleigh, Christian, Cadence, Jade, and Onyx