Help Emily Cover Urgent Legal Fees & Replace a Failed Water Heater

Hi, I’m Emily. I’m a single mom who grew up in a polygamist community and have spent the last few years rebuilding life from the ground up—providing for my kids, healing, and speaking out so others know they’re not alone.

On Tuesday, November 18, I have to be back in court. My ex-husband filed new papers and had them served to an attorney who doesn’t represent me, which ate up valuable time. I was finally served and left with only a small window to respond. The good news: I found an attorney willing to take my case at an 85% discounted rate. The hard truth: even discounted, it’s still more than I can pull together this fast while keeping my kids housed, fed, and taken care of—especially with one of my children being sick right now.

And because life loves a pile-on, my water heater died. We’re doing our best, but hot water is not a luxury when you’ve got kids and a home to run. I found a basic replacement unit for about $750, and my niece has offered to install it for free—so every dollar there goes straight to getting hot water back on.

What I’m asking for

Your help will cover:

• Urgent legal costs for the November 18 court date (retainer, filings, and appearance—at 85% off, but still a stretch for me right now).

• A replacement water heater (around $750 for the unit; installation covered by family).

• Any leftover will go to immediate essentials for the kids (utilities, groceries) while I juggle court prep and medical needs.

Why this matters

I’ve worked hard to break cycles, to co-parent responsibly, and to build a stable, loving home for my family. I share my story publicly to help others leave controlling environments and find safety and freedom. I don’t ask lightly. But the combination of a sudden court fight, a sick kid, and a dead water heater is more than I can muscle through alone this week.

How you can help

• Donate—truly, $5 helps.

• Share this with a quick note about why you care—shares make a massive difference.

• Encouragement in the comments keeps me going.

If you’ve followed my journey, you know I’ll keep showing up—with honesty, integrity, and a whole lot of grit. Thank you for helping me protect my kids, stand up in court on November 18, and get hot water running again.

With gratitude,

Emily (Em n Em)

Other ways to help

• Share this—shares truly matter

• Prefer to give directly for the heater? Hardware store gift cards (Home Depot/Lowe’s/local) help a ton and will be used only for the unit