I don’t want to do this.

But, I don’t see another way.

And so,

i’m putting these words together

and reaching out.

I’m so embarrassed

and a little ashamed.

But my kids need me to be strong

and

brave

and

humble.

So i’ll get to the point.

i need to raise money.

A week ago, my marriage officially ended, after 4.5 years of separation and near constant court and legal fees.

I had to make it stop.

So many people I love have held me up and kept me moving forward and they believed justice would prevail…

In the end,

I made a very hard decision to settle outside of court because if I hadn’t I would have been facing at least two more years of legal fees, appeals, and the continued, constant drip of trauma.

I settled and lost so much.

But,

I got my new start.

The fire is finally out,

And I am standing in the ashes.

I got a real chance at peace,

and

I secured some of my children’s future plans for college.

But,

we are moving.

The kids and I have to leave the house we built around their needs, have to

leave the home that has helped delay the things SMA will someday take,

and have to say goodbye to the beautiful place that has held each of us all through SO much over the last decade.

The house we’re moving into was offered to us by a sweet family who knew our story and reached out to me to help me find a new place to rebuild. The house is darling and needs very few modifications: the step in shower needs to be made zero entry; the vanity needs to be changed to allow wheelchair access; and the family room needs a ramp.

All three entry doors are barrier free and there are sidewalks that will safely give Emma and Ruby access to independence. Allowing them to roll from the house into the heart of Jenkintown; to grocery stores, the library, ice cream, restaurants, public transportation, and more.

But,

i am writing to ask for donations to help us get rid of the little step into the shower, to ensure Ruby can wash her hands and brush her teeth at a sink as able bodied people do, and to add the ramp to the family room. Astoundingly, the estimate for those modifications is $50,000.

I expected to be able to afford the modifications when my divorce was finalized; but, things didn’t go the way they could have and my settlement left me with very little extra funds and over $60,000 in outstanding legal fees.

I’ve said a lot.

And i guess all I really needed to say was:

Please, if you’re able, donate to help me build an accessible bathroom for my daughters in our new home. We are so very ready to start our next chapter.

Thank you for your love, support, and time.