Help Team TLC Get a Car

At the urging of friends and after working through embarrassment, guilt and shame, I'm asking for help. During a break between storms on the evening of January 2nd, the roads were clear and it had stopped snowing.

I decided it would be okay to take Thomas (my 17-year-old son) to a previously scheduled evening appointment.

While Thomas was in his appointment, it began to snow. We were nearly home when I lost control of the car on ice. Miraculously we slid across the 4 lanes of the highway without hitting another car, and without a car hitting us.

The car slammed into the highway barrier. Airbags deployed but we were fine, other than getting punched in the face with the airbags.

I was knocked silly and couldn't think straight. Thomas. That amazing person. He was on top of it. He said something like, "Okay. We're breathing. We're both conscious. Nothing is broken. But, I'm bleeding. Should I call 911?" (The airbag scratched his face.) Remsa checked us out. We all decided there was no need to go to the hospital.

Highway patrol stopped traffic so I could get to the other side of the shoulder as I was facing oncoming traffic on the opposite shoulder.

Once they saw the car was operable, they escorted me to the mall parking lot where Remsa finished checking us. I was so close to our place, the patrol officer said it was okay to drive the car home.

The car looks absolutely fine from behind. But it is totaled. I had a mechanic come look at it, and it's not worth it to fix. The front end shifted by about a foot! It still runs though! It is a beast! Ha!

I've had this car since 2008 - fourteen years! It came into our life when we had been without a car for nearly two years. I had planned on passing it to Thomas this summer. I've had to grieve over my plans getting messed up, and now I have to buy a new car. I needed to wait until I had finished paying for Thomas's orthodontic work, and dental work I've been having done. Grrrr!

I had to keep reminding myself that Thomas and I came home that night, and walked into our house. That was truly a blessing. I had some incredibly scary-looking bruises, but they have almost healed. Thomas had huge scratches and bruises on his face.

Insurance will total the car and I have a $1,000 deductible. They would give me $500-$1,000 (it's a 2001 car); which would be wiped out by the deductible. It's a 2001 model with 170k miles.

If I can pay off the remainder of Thomas's orthodontist bill, I can afford a car payment (it was originally $10k). I had just begun to get $10k worth of dental work that I need (years and years of not being able to afford dental work adds up). I will have to stop that work or take it much slower than planned.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, donating, and sharing the fundraiser. xoxo

It took all my willpower to post this photo!