My name is Lily Onnen and I desperately need your help. I am about to lose my home and become homeless. I’ve recently had back surgery 9/13/2025, didn’t wake up from the anesthesia, and almost died. The doctors/nurses had to give me Narcanto bring me back. I am so very grateful to the team of physicians/nurses at the University of Washington Montlake Hospital, Seattle, Wa for the amazing care I received.
on 1/1/2019, my husband walked out on me. I found out that he was a serial cheater, and had recently been fired from his job do to his affair with a direct report. All my ex husband said to me that night was, “ Lily, Im not happy.” Get over the death of your parents and I don’t like country music. That was my explanation as to why my husband left me and I never saw or heard from him again. It turns out I married somewhat of a shady guy, a con man. I was wife number three: he is now on wife number four. It’s true. I wasn’t over the death of my parents. I had recently lost my mom in 2017 to a treatable form of leukemia, however, she had a bad reaction to a blood transfusion and died before the cancer treatments could begin.
Three weeks later, my stepfather was found dead by my sister in his home. He died from a broken heart, however, we believe he took his own life because he missed my mom, his wife so very much.
I’m guilty of loving country music.
When my husband left, I fell apart. My world had fallen off her axis, and I started spinning out of control! I had no idea what to do, how to survive. I felt so alone and hopeless.
After spending most of my money on attorneys fees debts left behind and accrued as a result of my ex husband and our ghost of a marriage, i had no money. I was physically and mentally unable to work, so I applied and was granted public assistance for food, and medicaid for health insurance. I was also given a stipend of $450 in cash per month by the state of WA. I had tried to commit suicide, ended up in a coma for two days, but came to and didn’t die. I also suffer from Bipolar1 disorder, making it difficult for me to keep a job especially as a special education teacher.
Hopelessness, despair, depression, fear, uncertainty and loneliness took over.
I was always a drinker, but this time alcohol became more than just a casual go to friend. Alcohol became the answer to my problems, to my dark, empty feelings.
It was the solution for my problems.
I decided I would drink until I couldn’t drink anymore, or until I died; which ever came first.
I tried to drink myself to death for three years.I was in and out of hospitals, Harborview a lot in Seattle, Swedish hospital, Fairfax mental hospital….My ex husband and the divorce attorneys managed to get most of the money. I ended up having to file chapter 7 bankruptcy, my ex stopped paying the mortgage, he left the country with wife number four, my car was repossessed. I was selling/ pawning anything left of value that I had. I was drinking from the time I woke up, till the time I passed out.
If I didn’t drink, my body would shake, I would get nauseous and vomit, I couldn’t stop sweating. I was a full blown alcoholic who was on a collision course with death. A road that I had sought out due to so much pain on the main thoroughfare.
I never felt so alone, so defeated and so alone.
I was empty inside, depleted of life.
Drinking to survive, and drinking to die.
The foreclosure notices started going up on my door. My ex stopped paying the mortgage. The bank wouldn’t talk with me, because Im not on mortgage, only on title.
I had no idea what I was up against!
All I know is that the house is now in a receivership and If it sells at a certain price or lower, I will be penniless and homeless.
Drinking continued to numb reality,, reality equaled pain and the pain was unbearable!
My doctor told me that I would be dead within a year if I didn’t stop drinking. My liver had started to become fatty. I remember thinking, great, and meaning it.
More foreclosure notices started, utilities getting shut off.
mMy sweet furry babies: two dogs and my cat Bubba. I was barely taking care of them. I love animals more than people, so how could I allow this neglect?
I have the hardest time asking for help!
Asking for help is like trying to learn how to speak Japanese in a day! I had lost my dignity, my sense of self, my desire, my will to live.
One sunny Seattle day, I remember my Border Collie Ellie Mae staring at me as I was laying on the couch.
Her eyes looked at me and seemed to ask the question, “ when is the last time we went for a walk? Played ball?
Went to the park?
At that very moment, something told me that I needed to quit drinking. I needed to be a mommy to my furry babies. They needed me, and I had been neglecting them.
Instead of going to the hospital to detox, I decided to detox from alcohol at home with my pets for as long as it took till I no longer physically needed that first drink.
For five days, I was blanketed with pools of sweating, delirium tremors, hallucinations, vomiting and a raw pain which I will never forget?
I survived my withdrawal/ detoxification from alcohol with careful self monitoring.
My last drink was 6/7/2023, and I haven’t had a drink since then.
Today, with the guidance of a strong AA program, my sponsor, my higher power, God, prayer, the steps and a lot of service work, I continue to stay sober one moment at a time.
sadly, both of my sweet dogs have since passed, I didn’t drink, I recently loss myvaunt who was a second mom to me, I didn’t drink, more legal notices regarding my house and the real possibility of being homeless and not having any money, Im not drinking.
Instead of drinking, I attend AA meetings, or I call a sober friend.
My sobriety is the most valuable, important thing in my life and I hold it scred to my heart, to my breath every moment of every day!
Right now I amtrying to save myself and my cat from becoming homeless. I need an attorney. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money/ means to afford one. Up until now, I have been representing myself. The fact of the matter is that Im not an attorney, and it’s starting to show, starting to fray in my case.
I desperately need an attorney!
The fear is eating away at my strength, however, I refuse to allow it to knaw away at my sobriety!!
Im recovering from major fusion back surgery. Im doing all of this from my bed on my phone.
Im a special education teacher and I hope to go back to work, when I am medically cleared and this homelessness chaos is resolved.
I continue to work my very strong AA program with my sponsor and sober friends.
I always try to help those who are suffering, struggling. It helps me to help those who struggle, hurt like I do.
I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!!
Writing this, asking for help, being vulnerable to an audience of strangers is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
I don’t want to lose my home, become homeless.
Im beyond scared!
My mother use to tell me that I was her most resilient child.. Im doing the best I I can!
I would be eternally grateful if anyone could please help me.
My sobriety must come first, period!
I don’t want to die and I don’t want to be homeless.
I found an attorney who will take my case.
She is here in Seattle. She is requesting a $3000 retainer, and she can get started immediately!
I’ve been doing it all on my own.
I can’t compete with the bank and their lawyers any longer.
Legal advice is greatly appreciated too!!!!
Anything you can do to help me.
With Sincerest Gratitude, Thanks beyond infinity, much kindness and love
Lily Onnen
Organizer
Lily Onnen
Organizer
Seattle, WA