Hello, I apologize in advance, I have never created a go fund me, or asked for help really. My name is Sylvia, and I’m trying to get away from a bad situation. I’ve been married 23 years, we’ve been a military family and have 7 children, 3 are young adults already. We’ve been separated for a while now but recently forced his way back home and threatened me if I tried to make him leave. The children live with me one is non verbal and needs constant assistance and care which is why I’ve struggled to find a job. My kids and I are physically okay right now but we’ve gone through emotional and mental abuse, he’s been violent towards me before and more recently financial abuse, I don’t have access to our money and I always have to go through my spouse for everything and it’s sometimes not ideal such as gas or emergencies. Because he stripped me of all access I fell behind on some bills in my name, some are medical, and it bulldozed my credit. My score just continues to drop because he will not allow me money to pay them. I would like to start planning my divorce and would like to be able to get our own place to live in the near future and not feel hopeless and tied down because my credit is shot. That was the last bit of control he had so he’s using it.

I’ve been walking on eggshells and never know what mood he is going to be in, he talks very grim sometimes and I don’t want this to become one of those bad endings I often hear about in the news. I need to get my own life on track so we can be free finally. I feel awful that I’ve waited so long I was just frightened of the outcome. My youngest children are under 12 so I need to leave to protect them. It was a sad reality when I realized I have spent half of my life not to upset another adult and it should never have been that way. He’s isolated me from my family and I am located in Georgia with no friends or family nearby.

I promise when I get back on my feet I will pay it forward somehow. Before he restricted me I was a monthly doner to St. Jude’s, I donated to state emergencies, I raised money for childhood cancer through the Cookies for Kids organization. I donated clothes and belongings to our local domestic violence organizations and food banks on the holidays. It wasn’t much, but it was something and I would like to get back to that when I’ve restored my credit and am able to freely do so.

It’s a lot to ask of strangers who don’t know us for help and I’m not sure what will come of it but anything helps. I just need to start my life, I married at 18 so my entire life has been anxiety, stress and fear of what he is capable of. I truly appreciate anything and everything that you can give.