My name is Kimberlee, and I never imagined I would be in a position where I needed to ask for help for myself. After a serious injury that required surgery and a long recovery and rehabilitation, I have been unable to work as a nurse, and my husband and I have been doing our best to get by. Michael, my husband, cared for my father, a Pearl Harbor survivor, during his final days on hospice at home. We lost him just two days before our 35th wedding anniversary and five days before Christmas last year. We were blessed to have him at home, where he passed peacefully with us at his side. It was a painful and difficult time, and I had to turn down a job opportunity in Seattle to be there for my father and support my husband. Unfortunately, Michael's stipend as my father's VA caregiver ended with my father's passing as well.

Since my father's passing, I have been helping to plan funeral arrangements here on the mainland and also helping to plan a memorial at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial this December. I have been applying for multiple positions between Oregon and Washington. I am also in school working toward my master's degree in nursing. Despite my efforts, I have not been able to find a new nursing job yet. There are some positive recent responses, but even if I get one of these positions, it won't be fast enough for onboarding. We are now at risk of losing our rental housing, and the stress of not being able to contribute financially has been overwhelming. We have exhausted our savings and retirement accounts, and our credit cards are pretty much maxed out. My family has helped as much as they can, but I have exhausted that assistance as well. If we lose our place, friends have offered to take us in, but we would have to rehome our pets, which would be devastating. I am applying for state assistance and pursuing a personal injury settlement, but those processes take time, and our immediate needs can't wait.

Asking for help is not easy for me, and I am only reaching out because we truly need it. Any support, whether through a donation or simply sharing this fundraiser, would mean more than I can express. I want to get back on my feet, return to work, and regain stability for me and for Michael. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any help you can offer during this difficult time in our lives.

I have set this fundraiser at $8000 as this will cover two months of rent and expenses for us until I am working again.