My name is Lou, and I’m reaching out because I need help getting back on my feet—literally. Last week, I blew out my back and have been out of work ever since. I’ve struggled with back problems since I was 25, and now at 47, the pain has finally caught up with me. After a trip to the ER, the doctors told me I need surgery to fix the damage. The pain is severe, and I’m running out of options.

This couldn’t have come at a worse time. I just bought a house for my niece so she could have a stable home, and now I’m at risk of losing my job because I can’t work. My body has always been my way to provide, but right now, I need a safety net. The funds raised will help cover the cost of surgery, support me during recovery, and pay my bills while I heal. If there’s enough, I hope to learn a new trade—one that doesn’t put my body on the line every day.

Please help a broken brother out! All my life I’ve been breaking my body for work, and now work broke me. I’m not done yet—I just need a little help to get through this and find some peace. Any support, whether it’s a donation or sharing my story, means the world to me.