Let me paint you a lil' picture…

When I was 25, I bought an old farmhouse tucked in the woods of Maine behind a small mountain in Bradbury State Park. This house had serious charm, but smack dab in the middle of the front yard was a large barn that was slightly lopsided and majorly melting into the ground.

Everyone and their sister told me to call the fire department, and burn it to the ground.

But my uncle—who was like a father to me—was determined to convince me otherwise. He saw something in this building that was worth saving. He would often drop by my house with other various visitors to show them the barn. Some were barn experts, some were carpenters, some were neighbors. And one by one, they all agreed that there was something special about this barn.

As more people stopped by, I was told the barn had characteristics that indicated it was as old as the late 1700's. I also learned that, in the 1980s, it served as a small bar for hunters and snowmobilers, with my house as the kitchen that fed them all.

I would often stare at this structure. Scratching my head, trying to figure out what to do with it. People had their opinions. My opinion? The firepit was not its destiny.

For years, I’ve looked at that barn and imagined what it could be. What I landed on - and perhaps knew all along - was that it was supposed to be a place for healing. For both humans and animals alike. As a healer who works with trauma survivors, I know how powerful both nature and animals can be in the trauma recovery process. And ya know what houses animals, and is smack dab in the middle of nature? Yes, you guessed it - this barn.

My uncle taught me how to love the natural world. He showed me how to see magic in the forest, how to listen to animals, how to care for all living things as a form of moving meditation. He worked in animal-assisted therapy, he brought animals to schools and nursing homes. He created miles of trails for everyone to enjoy. He always said "a shared joy is a shared magnified." And joy was always found in the woods, and also amongst animals. He shared that with everyone.

It was through his passion for nature that I grew a love for all creatures - dogs, horses, chickens, even snakes. He had filled his own barn with animals that helped heal his community. I think he knew my barn had the potential to do the same.

Two years ago, my uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And he was gone one month later. A vibrant spirit that is truly missed in this world.

Since his passing, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how I can save this barn, not only for my dream of bringing it back to life, but also to honor my uncle and his passion for saving it. And now my dream of bringing animals, humans, and plants together under this roof is all the more potent, as I know it will be a way to honor him.

But speaking of the roof - it's caving in. Beams have begun to collapse, and the structure is becoming unsafe. The barn is at risk, and she's about to reach a point of no return.

As I mentioned before, I am a therapist working with trauma survivors - specifically survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. I am working tirelessly to further my career to be the best healer I can be because I am deeply passionate about supporting the population that I work with - but like many in this field, I am not financially resourced to take on a project of this scale alone. It is a daunting task, and I am learning the art of asking for help.

So.... here I am, asking for help.

Because I know it is worth it, and I know what it could become -

A space where survivors can heal.

A space where animals are safe and cared for.

A space where nature, people, and purpose come together.

Your support will go directly toward stabilizing and rebuilding this barn—preserving a piece of history and creating something meaningful for the future. I will be diligent about documenting this process for those who are interested in following along.

This isn’t just about saving a building.

It’s about creating a place for healing, connection, and transformation.

And it’s about honoring a man who believed in this dream from the very beginning.

Thank you for being part of it.