Support Bryan's Journey to Stability

Hi, my name is Bryan. I'm a 51-year-old veteran who served in Iraq. I've been married for over 25 years to my high-school sweetheart, and we have two great kids, aged 20 and 16.

I've just hit some roadblocks in life. I don't mind working for what I need, so it's hard to ask for help. I lost my job of 16 years and was involved in a hit-and-run last December, which caused me to lose my truck. I only had liability insurance. I found work as a handyman/landscaper, etc., but it's just not enough hours and a reduction in pay from 35 hours to 23 hours. No medical insurance. My GI Bill was sabotaged by HR from Solo Cup. I never asked for help from the Army; I joined to fight for my country. I lost my first son while I was in Iraq. I have trouble with my mental health, asthma, knee, hearing, and more, but it's been 20 years, and I don't like doctors. I watched my mom get lost in the system of low-income health care, where they gave her pill after pill until she died from a bleeding ulcer in 2007. I lost my little brother in 1979 to heart surgery and watched my wife give birth to our stillborn baby boy after a year in Iraq. I say that to let you know why I don't have much faith in health care. I've been turned down for every assistance I've applied for. I don't mind working; I just am not able to do like I did when younger.

But now, I'm 3 months behind on my mortgage. I am owed more than $2000 from work I've completed for yards but have been ghosted by the man I worked for. I only brought in $1000 for the last 2 months. I need $400 for lights by next week, and the water shuts off sometime this week. I couldn't get my son any school clothes. If it wasn't for my little brother, I'd be homeless. With his help, I've gotten another truck, and I can work, and I'm doing so, but I haven't been paid for a month from yards I've done. After food for my wife and son and gas to do the work, and several other things I will not bore you with, there is no money. I'm $800 negative in my account, and my brother can't do everything for me. I just don't know what to do. I'm trying to get disability from the Army, but I have no faith in that.

My daughter is in college. She hasn't asked for anything and has funded all her own money for school without any loans, solely on academic grants and scholarships. She is awesome. If I had $3000, I would still be broke, and bills won't wait. If I could just get paid, I wouldn't be on here. Anything will help, but I can work for anything given, and I prefer to give, not ask. It's not fair for my kids to suffer because of me. I've taught them to help whenever they see someone in need. No one ever taught me how to ask for help, so I'm giving it a shot and will pay it forward to anyone less fortunate.