Never in a million years did I think I would ever start a GoFundMe. As most of you know, I hate asking for help and rarely do. I also know that times are tough for so many of us, which makes this even harder to write.

I recently left my career in law enforcement, after nearly a decade of honorable service as a police officer. With health care costs rising in the U.S. (especially in Texas), I made the decision to relocate to Montréal to be closer to my daughter, who is a university student. As a dual citizen, it also gives me a chance to access health coverage while I figure out my next chapter. I had saved carefully for years to make this transition possible.

What I could have never prepared for was what happened on Wednesday, November 26.

Shortly after midnight near Syracuse, New York, the tractor-trailer carrying all my personal belongings was involved in a catastrophic accident. U-Pack originally told me the driver “slipped over ice,” but when I obtained the police report, the listed cause was "driver inattention". The weather conditions were also not cold enough for ice (it was 47°F that night). According to the DeWitt Police Department, it appeared the driver was in the wrong lane and about to miss his exit. He abruptly attempted to get over, causing him to lose control of the trailer. Once it hit the guard rail, it split in half and fell — sending the entire contents of my life over a bridge. The accident was so severe that it even made the news. Then it began to rain, soaking and destroying even more of what remained.

U-Pack informed me that most of my belongings have either perished or are in very bad shape. They are only willing to pay $3 per pound per item — an amount that doesn’t come close to covering the value of what I lost. This included the basics: furniture, kitchenware, clothing, and essential household items. But what hurts the most are the irreplaceable things: family photos, sentimental keepsakes from the kid's childhood, family heirlooms, awards and memorabilia from my law-enforcement career, and the musical instruments I spent years collecting.

Many of you know how deeply music is woven into my life. My turntables and my entire vinyl collection — something I spent decades building — are gone. As a DJ, those records were part of my identity, my joy, and my safe place, especially after entering sobriety when music became one of the few things that grounded me and kept me going.

To make matters worse, every lawyer I’ve spoken to so far has declined the case because it involves property loss rather than personal injury.

When the accident happened, I was still on the road, somewhere near Memphis. I kept driving to Montréal with what little I had. I am now in an empty apartment with only a few days’ worth of clothes — and I am not prepared for the brutal winter weather that is fast approaching.

I have survived many hardships in my life, but nothing on this scale. I am overwhelmed, grieving, and trying to figure out how to rebuild from scratch in a new city and new country.

If you are able to help me replace even the basics — or if you know of a lawyer willing to take on a case like this — I would appreciate it more than words can express. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and thank you to everyone who has checked in, offered support, or simply held space for me during this devastating time.

With all my heart,

MK