Hey hey, I'm Cori - I’ve lived abroad for most of my adult life, mainly in Southeast Asia, and while that can look glamorous from the outside, the reality has been very different. I’ve never lived above the poverty line as an adult. What I have done is build a life rooted in community, creativity, and showing up for others, often while quietly struggling myself.

In 2022, I left my marriage and started over completely on my own. Since 2019, my life has included multiple international moves, the loss of my father, the loss of my dog, a deep period of depression, and long stretches of financial and job insecurity. I have kept going, sometimes very slowly, sometimes stubbornly, always doing my best.

Through all of it, my cat has been my constant. She is my ride or die. My family. My tiny emotional support creature who has sat next to me through grief, uncertainty, and more than a few late-night “we will figure this out” talks.

Earlier this year, things finally started to feel lighter. I had two steady clients, I was consolidating debt, and for the first time in years I could imagine not overdrafting every single month.

I felt proud. I felt hopeful. Then, in the last two weeks, everything shifted. I am losing one of those two clients, which makes up more than half of my monthly income. At the same time, my cat has been sick and needs multiple vet visits and ongoing care.

I am asking for help now because I know myself well enough to know this. I can rebuild. I can find stable work. I can move forward. But I cannot do that while living in constant fear and survival mode.

I am hoping to raise support that would cover about three months of rent, food, basic expenses, and my cat’s veterinary care. This support would give me breathing room. It would give me stability. It would let me focus on getting back on solid ground instead of just hanging on.

Asking for help like this is scary, but it is also something I am proud of. I am not ashamed of needing support. I am human, I am tired, and I am doing my best.

If you are able to contribute or share this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you are just reading along and cheering quietly, that matters too... More than you'll ever know.