My name is Shawn, and I’m reaching out because my family is facing a crisis we never expected. For months, our landlord’s maintenance team failed to properly repair leaking drain pipes under our house. An actual plumber confirmed the problem had been ongoing, and as a result, a pool of sewage water gathered under our home for about eight months. Just yesterday, the pipe was finally fixed, but today things took a turn for the worse. Without any warning, the landlord’s team sprayed lye with an air compressor under the house to soak up the water, and the dust from it got into our AC system. It filled our home with a cloud of chemicals, exposing our 7-week-old daughter, Kodi, to dangerous conditions. We had to leave immediately, and our house is now uninhabitable.

I'm not much of a social media person, I don't even have a Facebook but, I've always been told that a closed mouth doesn't get fed and to ask for help if you need it. I've seen stories on the news about GoFundMe and it changing people's lives, I just spent 15 minutes on my knees praying and thanking God for everything he has given us and asking him for guidance. I cannot tell you how hard it is as a man to ask others for money. Or to admit that I too am a little scared and at my wits end.

But as a new father, I'm asking if you won't help me, then to please help my little girl Kodi. I just want her happy and healthy. I'm not asking for you to donate if you're struggling yourself. Please do not take away from your own family to feed mine. But if you can help it would be very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless, The Grady's.