Hi, my name is Stephanie Colavito, and this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to write.

I'm the owner of a brand-new cottage food business, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like life was finally moving in the right direction.

My little business has been showing incredible promise, earning over $200 in our first 10 days inside The Meat Shop on 38th. It may not sound like much to some, but to me, it was proof that all the hard work, late nights, and prayers were beginning to pay off.

Then everything seemed to fall apart at once.

For nearly three weeks, I was extremely ill with what I believe may have been Cyclosporiasis—or possibly the worst food poisoning I've ever heard about or experienced in my 31 years. Whatever it was, it had me trapped in bed exhausted and dehydrated. It kept me from working and making the income I depend on while bills continued to pile up.

As I was trying to recover, another unexpected nightmare occurred.

While eating a package of fruit snacks purchased from a large retail chain, I bit down on a sharp piece of metal that appeared to have been inside the fruit snack. The impact broke one of my teeth.. a very round large hole punched into the bottom of an upper molar.

At first, I thought I could manage the pain while waiting a dentists appointment, but it quickly became unbearable. The pain became so severe that I ended up in screaming agony hiding in the bathroom. My sweet fiancé rushed me over to the emergency room, and now I'm facing emergency medical bills along with the cost of the dental treatment I'll need to save or replace my tooth.

I'm currently trying to work through the insurance process with the retailer and manufacturer, so I can't publicly identify the store or make accusations about how the metal ended up in the package while the investigation is ongoing.

Unfortunately, communication has been slow, and the bills can't wait.

I've even reached out to personal injury and product liability attorneys to understand my options, but that creates yet another expense at a time when I'm already overwhelmed.

Like so many families, we were already living paycheck to paycheck before all of this happened. Three weeks without being able to work, followed by an emergency room visit and upcoming dental treatment, has pushed us into a financial situation I never imagined I'd be in.

I'm asking for help covering:

• Emergency medical expenses

• Household bills that have fallen behind while I was unable to work

• Basic living expenses as I continue to recover and keep my small business alive.

Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference. If you're not able to donate, I totally get it. I've been there, where sharing a story with others would mean the world to someone asking for help.

A prayer when your putting them out during your day could change the world

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for believing in my small business, and for helping me through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I truly believe brighter days are ahead, and I can't wait to get back to doing what I love—creating homemade treats for my community.

With so much love and gratitude,

-Stephanie Colavito

Colavito Creations

[email redacted]

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