For those who don’t know me, my name is Kevin, and I grew up here in the Pensacola, FL area. I became a father for the first time in 1998. I spent years in the service industry at multiple restaurants and bars until my late 20s when I joined the Army. I spent 7 years in the Army with 2 back-to-back combat deployments for OIF and OEF, getting out as an NCO in 2013 and working as a field engineer for a large defense contracting company for 12 years getting to live abroad in multiple countries. I then became Pensacola’s Tattooed REALTOR®️, helping many achieve home goals and dreams. I had 2 more amazing kids over those years who I now raise and co-parent every other week. My boys and I love to create, fish, game, and other things.

A couple of years ago, I lost my job with the defense contractor I worked for, causing a whirlwind of financial stress, leading to having to sell a home and now put another in foreclosure. Due to the cancer and other severe health conditions, I have been unable to gain accommodating employment. As that struggle pushed forward, I was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer a couple of months ago. My health is poor, and I am becoming weak. With appointments, tests, treatments, etc., it has become unbearable. The finances are gone, the house is being foreclosed, I had to give up my professional Real Estate license, and finding work is a struggle. We had to sell my truck during this time just to stay afloat. the current vehicle I was able to afford needs major repair and insurance just to get on the road to get the kids to school, practice, appointments, and get me to my appointments, store, etc. One day I would love to fully restore the current older truck I have because the kids and I love it but for now, I just want it to be reliable and safe. 

As hard as this is, we need help. I help with harm reduction and homeless resources here in Pensacola, but I can’t keep giving the help now that I am down, and that hurts my heart. Knowing I can’t afford my kids' Christmas keeps me awake at night in utter anxiety. I never wanted to have to ask for this and it hurts honestly. it’s hard enough to try to get the courage to ask for help. I want to be able to give back any help we can get. I know once the storm is through, I will be blessed to help others through the dark.