My name is Brian. I’m a disabled father in Michigan, and I’m asking for help for my family.

That is not easy for me to say.

I have always tried to be the kind of man who figures things out, who keeps going, who protects his family no matter what. But right now, I have to be honest. We are tired. We are scared. And we are barely keeping our heads above water.

We are the Umphrey family. My wife and I have three children, ages 12, 10, and 2, and we have another baby due in October.

I am disabled. I have a spinal fusion, nerve and muscle damage, chronic pain, and some mental disabilities as well. I am not ashamed of being disabled. My limitations are real, though. Some days it is hard just to stay comfortable long enough to write something like this.

For about five years, I have been trying to survive on disability. I was working until the company could not afford to pay me anymore. Since then, I have done what I can. I work on cars and computers when my body allows it. I have tried to start a business. I have tried to find steady side work. I have looked for work-from-home jobs, but so many of them turn out to be scams.

My wife works hard. She really does. She deserves better than this constant stress. One of the hardest parts of all of this is seeing the sadness and worry in her eyes and feeling like I cannot fix it fast enough.

We have tried to do things the right way. We cut spending. We got rid of things we did not need. We consolidated debt. We reached out for help, but so many places are stretched thin too. We get some state help, but we were denied food assistance. Friends and family care, but everyone is struggling.

Then life kept happening.

Our refrigerator quit working and cost about $500 to fix. We had to get a safer, more reliable van for our growing family. We also had to get warranty protection because if that van breaks down, we are in serious trouble. That added almost $4,500 more.

Now we are carrying a $7,500 debt consolidation loan, around $9,000 in credit card debt, and the cost of the van and warranty on top of everything else.

We are not behind on everything yet, but that is only because we are constantly scraping, juggling, and choosing what can wait. We have paid bills and even rent late before just so we could afford gas and food. We buy groceries week by week because that is what we can manage.

One more emergency could drown us.

We also live in a small, run-down rented home. It is hard trying to function as a family in a cramped space, especially with two older kids who need room, a toddler, and a baby coming soon. I try to hide the stress from the kids, but any parent knows that children can feel when something is wrong.

I am even preparing to sell my computer to help us make ends meet. That hurts, but I will always give up my belongings to care for my family. I can go without. They must not.

What scares me most is what happens when the baby comes and my wife is on maternity leave. We are barely afloat right now. I am afraid that once the baby comes, what is barely afloat will sink.

I am afraid of watching my wife’s depression get worse. I am afraid of losing the little stability we have left. I am afraid my kids will look at us and think we failed, even though we are trying so hard.

It feels like every time we take one step forward, something happens and knocks us back down.

That is why I am asking for help.

Our goal is $20,000. I know that is a lot of money. I do not expect anyone to fix our whole life. But this amount would change everything for us right now.

Here is how we would use it:

Need Amount

Pay off debt consolidation loan $7,500

Pay down credit card debt $9,000

Maternity leave, groceries, baby needs, fees, and emergency breathing room $3,500

Total $20,000

If we could pay off the loan and credit card debt, the stress would lift in a way I can barely explain. We could breathe again. We could keep the refrigerator full. We could prepare for our baby with some peace instead of panic.

If there is anything left after the debt and immediate needs are handled, we would use it to try to find a larger place to live. Buying a home someday is the dream, but even a bigger rental would mean our children and new baby have more space.

I want people to know this: we are not asking because we gave up.

We are asking because we refuse to give up.

I am proud of my weight loss. I am proud that I keep fighting. I want my children to see that no matter how hard life gets, you do not quit. You keep going. You keep fighting. You keep trying to rise.

We will be transparent with every dollar. When something is paid, I will post an update and show proof of payment with personal information hidden. If a trusted donor ever wants proof privately, I am willing to provide that too.

If you can donate, thank you.

If you can share, thank you.

If all you can offer is a kind word or prayer, thank you.

Thank you for being willing to help our family and not just pass judgment. Thank you for helping a disabled man’s family try to rise out of the ashes of hopelessness.

We will rise above this. We will never give up. And one day, we want to be the ones helping others in need.

— Brian and the Umphrey family