Ford Left Us Stranded—Now I’m About to Lose My Son

Hello, my name is Elisabeth, and I never imagined I’d be in this position—homeless, heartbroken, and pleading for help to keep my son safe and give us a chance to rebuild our lives.

On July 31, my 15-year-old son Jared and I finally made it back to Texas after being stranded in the New Mexico desert for 68 days. We arrived in Denton with nothing but what we could carry and the hope that we could finally start over. I had hoped that when we made it back to Texas that everything would fall back into place, but instead I am left with nowhere to stay, no transportation, no money and am about to lose custody of my son. Somehow in all this I am being made out to be a bad person who deserves all this by those I thought were loyal and loved me. Maybe I do deserve it. It is certainly feeling that way, though I don’t know what awful thing I did that made it so.

Now we are once again alone, with no home, no vehicle, no income, and very little support. And the most devastating part? I may have to give up temporary custody of my son to his aunt—because while she can take him in, she cannot take me. I never imagined I’d be forced to make that kind of choice just to keep him safe.

How It Started:

Memorial Day weekend in May 2025, while driving from Utah to Texas to resume a part-time job and rebuild our lives, our 2021 Ford Bronco broke down suddenly outside Gallup, New Mexico. The engine seized without warning—at just over 41,000 miles.

Ford eventually agreed to repair the vehicle under warranty, acknowledging it was a manufacturer defect. But we were stranded in a remote hotel for 68 days, using every last dollar we had just to survive.

My unemployment benefits ran out in June 2025, the temporary housing at an Airbnb I had lined up in Texas had to be cancelled and refunded due to the breakdown with delays, and we had no way forward. Still, I held it together the best I could for my son.

️ The Latest Update:

There’s finally a small light at the end of the tunnel: Ford has agreed to reimburse me for hotel expenses, transportation to Texas, and car payments for the time the Bronco has been in the shop.

But there’s a catch—they won’t reimburse anything until the repair is fully complete. And right now, I’m being told that could take a month or more.

Just this week, I learned that the mechanic assigned to my Bronco quit unexpectedly, and now Ford is trying to fly in a qualified technician to Gallup to finish the work. There’s still no clear timeline for when the repairs will be completed or when my vehicle will finally be delivered to me here in Denton.

A New Urgency: We Need Housing to Stay Together

One of the most urgent needs right now is establishing housing—not just to survive, but so that I can enroll my son in school before the new academic year begins. Without a stable address, I can’t register him in the Denton school district. That means he may have to enroll where his aunt lives instead.

He and I have talked about the possibility of him staying with her temporarily, and while he agrees it may be what’s best “for now,” he doesn’t realize it could lead to us being permanently separated.

If I can’t secure housing and get him enrolled, there’s a very real chance that she could gain full legal custody—not out of cruelty, but out of necessity. And that is my worst fear.

He doesn’t want to be separated from me. I don’t want to be separated from him. But time is running out, and our options are few.

I’m Trying—Really Trying:

I’m a full-time online college student in my second term at Purdue University Global, working toward a degree in Supply Chain & Logistics Management.

I’ve applied to over 1,000 full time jobs—and I continue to apply every single day. However, with no transportation or actual official residence, starting a new full-time job seems impossible.

I’ve done everything I can to keep my son safe, fed, and hopeful—but we’re on the edge.

Had we stayed in Gallup, we could have continued receiving support from my church community. But now, in Denton, we have no local safety net—and we used the last of our money just to get here.

Why We’re Asking for Help:

Your donation will help us survive this critical stretch:

Cover temporary lodging while we wait on the Bronco’s repair and delivery

Help us secure stable housing so I can keep custody and enroll my son in school

Pay for a rental car or other transportation to attend interviews, work my part-time job and manage daily needs

Catch up on car payments to prevent repossession (reimbursement is delayed)

Provide food, school supplies, clothing, and essentials for my son

Our Goal: $17,200

Expense Amount

Temporary Lodging (1 month) = approximately $2,200

Housing Deposit + First Month = approximately $5,000

Catch Up Car Payments = approximately $4,000

Rental Car / Transportation / Essentials = approximately $2,000

Groceries, School Needs, Emergency Buffer = approximately $4,000

Every Dollar Helps

I’ve always been strong and self-sufficient—but this situation is more than I can handle alone. I just need to get through the next few weeks—until the Bronco is fixed, Ford reimburses me, and I can regain my footing.

This isn’t just about me. It’s about giving my son the stability, security, and future he deserves—and keeping us together.

If you can donate or share our story, you’ll be helping more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for lifting us up during this painful chapter.

With gratitude and hope,

Elisabeth & Jared

Denton, Texas

Arrived July 31, 2025