Writing this is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, because asking for help is something I avoid. As my therapist often reminds me, I need to give people the opportunity to say yes, rather than assuming they’ll say no.

The last few weeks have been heartbreaking and painful. In the middle of June, I found out I was losing my dream job, being one of the 12 people laid off from Paizo. I’m working through plans to overcome this setback and applying for jobs daily, hoping to find somewhere to land. However, when it rains, it pours—and Auryn and I are in the eye of the hurricane.

While heading to spend time with my partner, tragedy struck twice. First, after leaving Petsmart, Auryn caught his paw in a cart, ripping his nail and jumping out in fear. Thankfully, he had his harness on, but he was hurting and terrified, and bit my finger as I tried to get him back into the car and his carrier so he could calm down. Later, during the drive, we were behind a construction truck when a piece of equipment fell onto the highway. I hit it head-on, causing extreme damage to the underside of my car. The next morning, I went to urgent care for the bite and was given antibiotics, but the injury was worse than expected. By Saturday, I was in the ER, where doctors decided I needed IV antibiotics and emergency surgery. The wound was through muscle, tendon, and down to the bone. After surgery, I was admitted for observation and more antibiotics. Now, the aftermath is overwhelming. My car appears to be totaled, and I need to find another vehicle with features that support my back. The hospital stay and surgery were extremely costly, not including follow-up visits or upcoming physical therapy. All of this is happening as my last day of work approaches, and my insurance and severance end soon.

This doesn’t even account for my regular medical appointments, therapy, specialists for my back and concussion syndrome, or my monthly medications—about thirteen in total, with some costing more than I can afford. With all this in mind, I come asking for help. I know this GoFundMe has a large goal, but it’s set to help me stay medically stable and ensure safety for Auryn and me.

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Funds raised will help with:

~ Transportation and vehicle-related expenses

~ COBRA expenses to keep stable health insurance

~ Medical costs associated with the surgery and recovery of hand

~ Auryn vet follow-up to check the healing of his paw

~ Long-term housing and/or storage as we transition between jobs

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If you can help financially, thank you. If you can help by sharing this with others, that’s incredible. If you can’t help, your care and attention mean a lot.

Love, hugs, and chocolate chip cookies,

~Ivis & Auryn