My husband Soren and I have been together for over 33 years, supporting each other through every challenge life has thrown our way. Just two months ago, we moved from Las Vegas back to Oakland, CA. We used up our savings on the move, never expecting that Soren would soon face a life-threatening heart attack and need emergency open-heart surgery.

Soren’s heart attack happened unexpectedly while he was in Palm Springs, CA. I had to quickly travel from Oakland to be by his side, which added to our expenses. Since then, we’ve also had to purchase adaptive equipment for his recovery.

Both Soren and I are self-employed, and because I’ve been helping Soren through his open-heart surgery and recovery, I haven’t been able to work for the past two weeks. Soren is a massage therapist, but his recovery means he won’t be able to work for at least two months. While we’re grateful for the emotional support from friends and family, we’re struggling to cover our most basic living expenses—rent, utilities, and groceries—while Soren heals. The stress of not knowing how we’ll make ends meet is making this already difficult time even harder.

Soren has always been my rock, especially during my own battles with cancer, diabetic ketoacidosis, and long Covid. Now, I’m asking for help so we can get through this together. Any support will go directly toward keeping a roof over our heads, food on the table, and making sure Soren has what he needs to recover safely. Thank you for reading and for any help you can give.