My name is Lexa. I’m 35, a single mom, a full time singer & entertainer in Las Vegas and I’m writing this with a heart that feels shattered. On August 16th, what started as a beautiful day at the park with my 3 year old son Cyrus turned into an absolute nightmare. I received a text from what appeared to be Coinbase—a reputable cryptocurrency platform where I had stored all of my savings for our future claiming there was an unauthorized login. In a panic, I called the number, desperate to protect the only funds I had.

In just 40 minutes, my entire savings were gone. Every dollar I had managed to save for our future was stolen.

Gone.

I stored my funds in crypto because I believed in its potential. I believed it was a way for someone like me a single mom with no financial help to create generational security.

For those who know me, asking for help does not come easy. I’ve kept my struggles private for years, raising my son alone after escaping a relationship that left us homeless and penniless.

I was in a six year relationship with a man who led a double life, had multiple affairs while I was pregnant and told too many lies to count. My son’s father was in control of our finances and left us with nothing—not even a home or a car. It has been three years and I have yet to receive child support from his biological father. He is in arrears for over $40,000.

I’ve rebuilt our lives from the ground up with the help of a dear family friend and, eventually, my mother who moved across the country just to support us and help watch Cyrus at night when I had to go to work.For that I am forever grateful.

Now, she’s facing major surgery in September with a long, painful recovery ahead and I have no means to afford childcare/help. I work 7 nights a week to provide my son with everything that he could need. Since this devastating event I’ve had to withdraw Cyrus from preschool, a place where he was thriving all because I was robbed by people who exploit fear. I am uncertain and scared for the future, and left with nothing but fear and desperation. That stolen money wasn’t just savings it was security. It was my son’s future.

I don’t want pity. I want to continue building the life I promised my son. But I need help to do that. If you’ve ever loved a child so deeply that you’d give up everything for them, then I ask you…please, help me now. I know what it’s like to carry the whole world for your child. And I also know the strength it takes to admit when you need help. If you’re in a position to support financially or by simply sharing this please know that your kindness means the world. If you’re a mom doing it all on your own, I know you’ll understand when I say: we find strength in places we never thought possible. And sometimes, we break down quietly, alone, because we know there’s no one else to catch us.

I’m not giving up. But right now, I could really use a hand. Share, donate, or send a kind word. Every bit counts. My son didn’t ask for this. He deserves so much more.

I hope that sharing this story raises awareness for others in the future. No one deserves to have their livelihood ripped away from them in an instant. Thank you for listening, Thank you for reading and Thank you for caring.