I never imagined I would find myself in a position where I needed to ask for help. I have always tried to manage on my own, keep working, and push through difficult situations. But after a long and unexpected health crisis, combined with financial and administrative problems, I have reached the point where I simply cannot cope alone anymore.

A few years ago, I bought a small house and moved to a quiet area with the rescue animals I care deeply about. My goal was simple: work hard, slowly repair my home, pay my bills, and create a peaceful and stable life. I truly believed that if I kept working and stayed positive, things would eventually fall into place.

Unfortunately, life had other plans.

In early 2024, I developed severe health problems caused by a fibroid, although at first I did not realise how seriously ill it was making me. I continued working as a home help while constantly losing blood and becoming more exhausted. By September 2025, my health had deteriorated badly. I was in pain throughout my body, struggling to breathe properly, and barely functioning. After asking my doctor for blood tests, I received an urgent phone call telling me to go to hospital immediately. I required a blood transfusion and several days in hospital.

Shortly afterwards, I underwent a hysterectomy in November, made more complicated because I was born with two wombs.

During my recovery, I developed severe pain in my right shoulder and lost movement in my arm. At first I was told it was a frozen shoulder, but after multiple appointments, scans, injections, physiotherapy, and consultations with specialists, I was eventually diagnosed with algodystrophy (also known as CRPS), alongside bursitis, arthritis, and damage within the shoulder itself.

This condition causes constant pain because the nervous system continues sending pain signals even when it should not. I now live with pain every day and night. Some days are more manageable than others, but even simple tasks such as changing bedsheets or doing household jobs can leave me in severe pain afterwards. The pain radiates from my neck and shoulder down into my arm, hand, and fingers, and even small accidental knocks can be unbearable. I currently take morphine, attend physiotherapy twice a week, and I am waiting for further treatment with a pain management specialist. Unfortunately, recovery from this condition can take many months or even years.

Despite everything, I tried to return to work because I was frightened of losing my job and wanted to keep supporting myself. But after two weeks, I physically could not continue.

Since then, my finances have collapsed.

Because I briefly returned to work, and because I previously had a small amount of Airbnb income which I have now stopped completely, I became trapped in complicated administrative problems with benefits and support payments. I recently found out that some of my financial support has been stopped and that I now owe money back, despite already struggling to survive.

I am now facing unpaid utility bills, rising electricity costs, water charges, local taxes, and basic living expenses I simply cannot manage. I am receiving support from local services in France, but the system moves very slowly, and right now the only immediate help I receive is access to the food bank.

To try to reduce my bills, I use as little electricity and water as possible. I sit in the dark most evenings, avoid using heating and appliances, and try to stretch food as far as I can. The stress and fear of losing everything has become overwhelming.

What hurts most is the fear of not being able to properly care for the animals who mean everything to me. One of my dogs requires daily heart medication. Another needs ongoing treatment for chronic ear problems. My cat urgently needs dental treatment because of painful gingivitis, but I simply cannot afford the veterinary costs.

Over the past few years, there have also been difficult personal experiences alongside my health problems, and emotionally I feel exhausted from trying to hold everything together for so long. One of the support workers helping me recently told me that I seem completely worn down by everything that has happened, and I think she is right.

Everything I tried to build so I could stand on my own feet now feels as though it is collapsing around me.

Asking for help is incredibly difficult for me, but I genuinely do not know how I will get through the coming months without support. Any donation, no matter how small, would help towards essential bills, food, medical costs, animal care, and keeping some stability in my life while I continue trying to recover and navigate the system.

Thank you for reading my story and for any kindness or support you are able to give.

Even simply sharing this page would mean more than I can express.

Thank you for reading my story and for any kindness or support you are able to give.

Rachel x