My name is Nicole, and I’m a mother of three boys. I’ve always tried to help everyone I can, even if it means giving my last. Asking for help is not easy for me, but right now, I truly don’t know what else to do.

On Easter Sunday, April 17th, 2022, my life changed forever in a way I will never be able to fully put into words. My family came to my home for what was supposed to be a warm, joyful Easter dinner. I had only lived there a month, still settling in, still learning the house. It was early spring, still cold, and nothing about that day gave me any reason to imagine the nightmare that was about to unfold.

At some point, my 3-year-old nephew went missing. Those first moments of realizing he wasn’t where he should be are moments that will haunt me forever. We searched the house, the yard, the street — and then the community came together. Hundreds of people, some who didn’t even know us, searched side by side with my family, driven by hope and desperation. But the ending was every family’s worst fear. My sweet nephew was found in the pool on the property. That day broke something inside all of us. A child’s life was lost — a child we all loved beyond words. Grief like that never leaves; it simply becomes part of you. I think about him every single day, wishing with everything in me that time could turn backwards.

Since then, my landlord has decided to countersue me for negligence—something I did not cause and was completely out of my control. Now, on top of the pain and trauma, I am facing something I never expected: I am being sued by my brother and the landlord, claiming that I am responsible for this unimaginable accident and for the condition of the pool. The weight of that accusation — from people I love — is crushing. Navigating this has been emotionally devastating, and the fear of not being able to defend myself is overwhelming.

I am a single mother raising a special-needs child and a set of twins. I also have custody of my niece. My days are full, my responsibilities are heavy, and every dollar I have goes toward keeping my children cared for, fed, and safe. There is simply no way I can afford the legal representation I need — not during the holidays, not with the reality of my life as it is. I never wanted to ask anyone for help like this. But I am at a point where I truly, desperately need a miracle.

Having a lawyer is the only way I can properly defend myself and make sure I am not unfairly held responsible for this situation. A public defender simply isn’t an option for a case like this, and I need help to obtain the right legal support. Your support would mean the world to me and my children. I hope that, with your help, we can bring peace to everyone involved and finally lay this case to rest.

I am humbly asking for help so I can hire a lawyer and protect myself and my children during this incredibly painful and frightening time. If you are able to donate, please know that your kindness will help me breathe again. And if you can’t donate, sharing this page or simply keeping us in your thoughts means more than you could ever know. Thank you for reading my story, for seeing my heart, and for offering any support you can during the hardest chapter of my life.