Keep Our Family Safe & Cool This Summer

Hi everyone, my name is Courtney, and I'm reaching out with a humble heart on behalf of my little family — my fiancé Brad, our sweet son Dawson, and myself.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been working hard toward my dream of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I recently earned my RN license and will be continuing school this fall to become an NP. I’ve just completed an accelerated master’s program in nursing, which meant I wasn’t able to work while in school. It’s been a tough road financially, but I’m proud to say that I will be starting as an RN soon, and we’re finally on the path to catching up on bills and finding stability again.

However, right as we were preparing to breathe a little easier, our 20-year-old AC unit gave out. With summer temperatures rising, our home has reached 83°F — even with window units running. It’s been incredibly uncomfortable, especially for our toddler. We’ve received three estimates for replacement, ranging from $5,800 to $8,500, and we’re going with the most affordable option. Unfortunately, even $5,800 is a major expense for us right now.

I’ve been researching every possible program to help with AC replacement but have hit dead ends — we don’t fall below the poverty line, so we don’t qualify for most forms of assistance.

To make matters more stressful, we received a letter from a realtor who is working to sell our neighbor's property, informing us that the trees in our yard — particularly two large ones — were deemed hazardous during an inspection. These trees do lose branches during storms, and while nothing major has fallen yet, the potential danger weighs heavily on me. Here in Ohio, we regularly experience strong storms with high winds, and tornado watches and warnings are not uncommon. I’ve contacted our home insurance, Habitat for Humanity, and even the county, but no one is able to help unless a branch actually falls and causes damage. I truly don’t want to wait for an accident to happen that could injure someone or damage property.

We’ve received estimates for removing the hazardous branches: $800 for one tree and $1,500 for the other. We also asked about full removal for one of the trees, but it would cost over $10,000 because they would need to bring in a crane to do it safely — something completely out of reach for us right now.

I’ve included photos of the larger, more hazardous tree, since it’s closest to the neighbor’s house and was flagged as a greater risk during their inspection. The other tree is just as concerning, even though it’s not pictured — both pose a real risk, especially during storms.

We’re hoping to raise enough to help cover:

I know times are tough for many people, and it’s not easy to ask for help. But if you’re able to support us — whether by donating, sharing this page, or keeping us in your prayers — it would mean the world to our little family. Every bit helps more than you know.

With gratitude,

Courtney, Brad, and Dawson