This has been a challenging stretch for our household. Over the past few months, a combination of injuries and illnesses left both me and my husband unable to work at the same time. Because I’m self-employed as a massage therapist, any medical downtime means I have no paid leave to fall back on.

I recently moved my practice into a new home office to reduce overhead and keep my business sustainable long-term. It was the right decision, but the timing overlapped with a hand injury and then a respiratory illness that kept me out of work longer than expected.

My husband also works in a caregiving profession where he can’t be around residents while sick, so we ended up with multiple weeks of lost income between us.

We’ve been doing everything we can to stay current, but the overlapping setbacks have put us temporarily behind. We’re asking for support to help us bridge this moment so we can get fully back on our feet. Funds will help us catch up on mortgage and car payments, pay essential bills like electricity and fuel oil, put new tires on our car for winter, and afford groceries while we recover and return to work.

I love my work and my community, and I’m focused on healing and returning to full capacity. Any help—whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this fundraiser—truly means the world to us. Thank you for your kindness and support.