Hello, my name is Julie and I am reaching out because I am in a desperate and overwhelming situation. My anxiety is at its peak, I am not sleeping and I have nowhere else to turn.

I find asking for help so very difficult; it's embarrassing how desperate I am.

I need prayers or positive vibes, sharing this post, encouragement, assistance with work or money to attend.

❤️ Every Donation Helps

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your kindness means more than I can express. Where or not you are unable to donate, sharing this page would help me enormously.

My eyesight is that poor that I have a friend typing this for me. Affecting my everyday life.

My children would prefer that I get accustomed to poor eyesight, rather than having my next operation. I want to have this operation. I don't want to lose my independence; I love driving to see my Grandchildren, who live 1 hour away.

Once I have my eye surgery and am recovered, I will cancel my health fund, so it will give me extra money to survive.

This is my story:

Years of major medical expenses combined with five years of financial and emotional abuse have completely wiped out my superannuation and left me struggling to survive. I am humbly asking for help to raise $4,480, so I can cover essential out-of-pocket medical costs and, if extra money is given, I can complete urgent repairs to my small cottage.

Why I Need Help

Despite paying for full private health cover all my adult life, the “out-of-pocket” costs have been devastating. At the same time, I was being financially controlled and drained by my ex-husband, who pressured me into withdrawing my superannuation for his benefit.

I am now on the pension, living alone, and trying to rebuild from the ground up.

My Medical Situation

I had my second cornea transplant in May 2023, followed by several costly procedures leaving me with the following out-of-pocket expenses:

• Corneal incisions (August 2025) – $2,331

• Three hernia repairs with mesh (January 2026) – $2,532

• Emergency vet care after my dog was bitten by a snake (March 2026) – $2,633

• Upcoming essential eye surgery to correct residual astigmatism – $4,500 (I am only one letter away from losing my ability to drive.)

Total out-of-pocket since the transplant: $14,322

Before this, I had seven major surgeries, averaging $2,500 out of pocket each, totaling $17,500.

Other ongoing medical conditions include:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Two brain aneurysms

• Tachycardia

• PTSD

• Hypertension

• COPD

• Diverticular disease (72 polyps removed since 2018)

I walk daily and manage my health carefully, but the financial burden has become impossible.

How Financial Abuse Destroyed My Super

When I turned 60 in 2018, my ex-husband convinced me to withdraw from my superannuation “for holidays.” I trusted him. That trust cost me everything.

• He spent the money on holidays, personal expenses and gambling.

• I was given $50 a week for myself.

• From mid 2019, I had stopped my super money going into our joint account, but he bullied and intimidated me into continuing withdrawals.

• I paid $153,000 more than my 50% share of our home expenses.

• My legal fees reached $54,000, and I recovered only a small portion.

• I eventually had to flee the home with police assistance in 2024.

I now live in a small cottage in a caravan park, 1 hour South of Wollongong. It is safe, but it needs repairs I can no longer afford.

My Home Needs Basic Repairs

The cottage required extensive work when I bought it. I budgeted carefully, but my medical expenses wiped out the money I had set aside for the laundry.

I cannot afford the labour to finish the job. The laundry needs:

• waterproofing

• installation of a laundry tub, cupboards, bench sink and

taps

If you cannot donate money, a tradesperson willing to waterproof the laundry and install laundry furniture would be a tremendous help.

Why Your Help Matters

I have been under severe financial stress since 2018. Now that I am on the pension, my situation has become critical. I never wanted to touch my superannuation before retirement, and without my ex-husband’s influence, I never would have.

Your support—no matter how small—will help me:

• Cover essential medical costs

• Complete basic home repairs

• Regain stability

• Finally breathe again