My name is Nicholas, and I never imagined I’d be in this position. For three weeks, I was in constant pain before finally going to the hospital. Things quickly became serious—I was transferred to a larger hospital, where doctors discovered my colon was only working at 25-50 percent. They performed emergency surgery to unblock it and placed an ileostomy bag. Unfortunately, complications caused a blockage, and I went septic. I was put on a ventilator for three days to save my life. After five weeks in the hospital, I’m finally home, but the journey is far from over.

This experience has turned my world upside down. I lost my job, and I’ve had to be away from my two young children—ages 1 and 5—while I recover and learn to walk and eat again with the ileostomy bag. Everything I eat now has to be applesauce consistency, and I still have a long road ahead to heal. it’s especially hard not being able to provide for my kids the way I want to. I’m reaching out because I need help covering hospital bills, living expenses, and support for my family during this difficult time.

Asking for help isn’t easy, but any support—no matter how small—would mean absolutely everything to me and my kids. Your kindness would help us get through this challenging chapter and bring hope back into our lives. Thank you for reading and for any help you can give.