My name is Patrice, and I’ve spent my life caring for others as a hospice worker and expressing myself as an artist. I’ve faced many challenges, including the loss of my own sister to suicide, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened in my own home. Recently, I returned to find that the tenant I sublet my home to had taken his own life in my bedroom. The trauma of discovering such a scene has left me shaken to my core, and I am now unable to live in my house while I try to process what happened.

Right now, I am staying elsewhere with my cat, Sky, while I work to restore my home. The damages are extensive—blood-stained subflooring, painting, and refurnishing are just the beginning. On top of the physical repairs, I am out of work and seeking counseling and therapy to help me cope with the emotional aftermath. The weight of this experience has triggered past trauma and made it impossible to simply “white knuckle” my way through, as I have in the past.

I am reaching out for help because I can’t do this alone. Anyone who has survived something this gruesome knows the images and pain don’t just go away. Your support will help me and Sky find safe housing, get the counseling we need, and restore my home so I can decide whether I am able to move back in or if I need to sell and start anew. Any support means the world to us right now, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness and generosity.