I'm normally not one to ask for help for myself. It's not really a pride thing as much as something that makes me feel guilt, I guess. People work so hard for their money and often, we are all struggling in some way. It's hard for me to ask others for help because I don't want to burden people... often I am the person giving to others, but here we go.

On June 10th, I sustained a workplace injury. My place of employment is highly labor-intensive with a lot of heavy machinery; it only takes a split second of someone not paying attention and a serious injury can occur. This happens to be a situation as such, unfortunately. A process was not followed correctly. The circumstances around it were neither the other team member's fault nor mine... but I am unfortunately unable to divulge that information without being terminated.

The situation I was put in gave me 2 options: stay where I was and possibly get thrown out of a cargo container, leaving the real possibility of me ending up under 2k lbs of steel or under an oncoming vehicle... or jump out of the container before speed picked up too much & possibly get hurt.

I chose to jump because an injury seemed like the lesser of two evils.

Unfortunately, I landed on my left leg in such a way that it tore my meniscus, tore my ACL graft from a surgery I had 5ish years ago, and fractured my medial tibial plateau.

I need to have knee surgery and this will put me out of work for months, and depending on light duty availability... possibly the year. I will receive workers' comp, but this won't cover my monthly expenses. The mortgage is $1400, my car payment is $421, the utilities range from $200 to $400 altogether depending on the temperature outside, and it's been absolutely treacherous outside with the humidity and heat being so high this year. The AC can't keep up and it's set between 72 and 74 depending on outside (it still gets up to 78 inside).

I have very little savings because right after buying the house, I had the windows replaced and then the main water line caved. Altogether, I spent $23k between just those 2 things.

No one wants to lose their home or the car... I know this, but I have CLAWED my way into this life that I created!

I bought this house after finally giving up and letting my ex-husband keep the house we had bought together. All I took away from that marriage was the things I already owned, the furniture that I personally bought, and the $9k that I had put down on the house so we could purchase. The judge asked me 3 times if that's all I wanted (my ex never even showed up to court) and I told her that I just wanted it over and I wanted to move on.

This is the second time I've left a house that I've been part of purchasing, but the first time I've taken anything with me when I've left. I'm the type of person that won't stay in a bad situation but will still help the person pay their rent when I leave till they find someone to be a roomie.

My whole adult life has been me taking care of other people, whether they are partners or friends, & supporting households while others don't have a job. I've lived out of my car 4 times just to be out of bad situations. I've worked multiple jobs at once. While in college, I had 3 jobs & was only getting 2 hours of sleep most days. I work hard and I love hard.

I know this is long-winded... sorry for all the reading if you made it this far.

I'm just reaching the end of my rope and I don't really know where else to turn.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Even if you can't donate... could you possibly share this for me?

I don't really expect this to go anywhere because everyone has it rough right now... but you fail every shot you don't take, ya know?