Help Kristian, Jodie & Ari Rebuild with Rideshare & Hope

Help Us Keep Going: A New Start with Rideshare and Love

Hi, I'm Kristian—and I'm reaching out during one of the hardest transitions my family has faced.

My wife, Jodie, lives with a severe autoimmune disorder that attacks her skin, hair, and nervous system. Since May of 2020, her symptoms have become so severe that even the touch of clothing can cause excruciating pain. Her medications leave her in constant fatigue, and she hasn't had what anyone would call a “good day” in nearly five years.

For most of this time, I've worked remotely in tech support for telecom and display systems. But with the rise of return-to-office mandates, it's become harder to find work that allows me to remain flexible enough to care for Jodie. My last contract ended in 2024, and since then, I've been searching for a way to support our family without leaving her without nearby support the days she needs me most.

That's why I'm turning to rideshare work. I'm eligible and ready to drive, but our personal vehicle is too old and unreliable to qualify. I'll need to lease a vehicle through a rideshare partner program—and that's where we could use a hand. This kind of work allows me to stay close to home on Jodie's harder days, and venture farther and longer when her symptoms ease up. It's the kind of flexibility traditional jobs just don't offer right now.

What We're Asking For

We're hoping to raise at least $1,500 to get started and stabilize our household:

If we're fortunate enough to raise more than $1,500, every additional dollar will help us catch up on back bills and dig out of the financial holes that have built up since my last remote contract ended in 2024. We've been stretching every penny, but we're at the point where we need help to stop the slide and rebuild a more stable foundation.

This Help All Three of Us

You won't just be helping Jodie and me. You'll also be helping Ari, Jodie's 25-year-old daughter. Ari has been working full-time and attending school part-time to help keep our household going. She's sacrificed so much of her own life and dreams in the process.

I want her to feel free to start living for herself again.

From Jodie:

I've always been fiercely independent. My whole life, I've prided myself on taking care of things myself—but through everything, Kristian has been the one person I could let my guard down with.

I fought for so long, for both of my girls, always putting my own health on the back burner. I prioritized everyone except myself, and eventually, that took a serious toll on my body.

(Why this was a shocking epiphany to me, I'll never know.)

Kristian has put his life on hold to take care of me now that all those years of ignoring basic self-care have caught up with me. He didn't give up on me, even when I felt like my body had.

We're looking toward the future now, and this opportunity—to start rideshare driving—means he can stay nearby if or when I need him, while also earning steady income for our family. It would make a huge difference.

Why We're Still Standing

Jodie and I first met 30 years ago—back when we were dating each other's best friends. We drifted apart, but years later, she moved in with me while I helped care for her chronically ill daughter, Alexa. We told ourselves it was casual, but it never really was.

When Alexa passed away, everything changed. I asked Jodie to stay, to try building a life together—but she said no. She moved 1,000 miles away and started over.

I understood, even if it broke my heart. She was running from grief, and I couldn't go with her on that journey. It wasn't mine to take.

Her time in the South was difficult. She gave birth to Ari and raised her with fierce love, but never really had the space to heal. Too many people used that grief to hurt her further.

Then in 2019, out of nowhere, she called:

Do you remember me?

She didn't know I'd never stopped. Some of my exes resented her—because they suspected I'd leave them for her in a heartbeat. And they weren't wrong.

Now we're here. Together again. Older. Weathered. Still holding on. I just need the tools to keep this life going.

Can You Help?

If you can contribute, thank you. If you can share this, thank you. You'd be helping three people who are doing their absolute best to survive with love, resilience, and whatever's left in the tank.

With love and gratitude,

Kristian, Jodie, & Ari