My name is Mike Starr, and this year has changed my life in ways I never imagined. On March 29th, I lost my daughter, Grace, to suicide. The pain of losing a child is indescribable. About three weeks later, while still grieving, my marriage ended when divorce was filed. Only weeks after that, tragedy struck again. My brother—my best friend and former business partner—was killed in a motorcycle accident near Buc-ee’s. We had previously owned and operated It’s Our Doody Pet Waste together, and his passing meant losing not only my brother, but the future we were building.

As the year began to close, I believed the worst was behind me. Then on Wednesday, December 3rd around 10:00 p.m., I was involved in a serious car accident. My late brother’s car was totaled, leaving me without reliable transportation. I am thankful to be alive, but this happened while I am between jobs, making it difficult to move forward. I do have insurance, but insurance takes time, and there are gaps and expenses I can’t cover alone right now.

I’ve always worked hard and tried to handle life on my own. But after losing my daughter, my marriage, my brother, and now my transportation all in the same year, I’m asking for help. I have a 3 month revoery tine because of the L1-L4 fusion that was done on Saturday last week. Funds raised will help with reliable transportation, basic living expenses, and stability while I search for work and rebuild. Despite everything, I am committed to moving forward. I want to rebuild my life, honor my daughter and brother, and find solid ground again. Any support—whether a donation, a share, or a kind word—means more than I can express. Thank you for reading and for being part of my path forward.

Breakdown of fund usage

$1500 Rental car for mom while she is here helping me

$850 Plane tickets to fly my mom to and from her home.jn Michigan.

$500 Paying for Beau's boarding while I was in the hospital.

$3000 - Down payment for reliable vehicle.