Hello, my name is Ivory, and I’m a single mom to an incredible 6-year-old. I’m raising funds to help us replace our car after the transmission failed this week. This unexpected expense is something I simply cannot afford right now due to a recent injury and surgery that is already causing great financial hardship.

Two months ago, I slipped on a steep, wet embankment while taking out the compost and broke three bones in my ankle. The break was complex, required multiple reductions, and ultimately surgery. I was unable to work for a significant amount of time and had to use nearly all of my savings just to stay afloat while healing. I have finally begun to walk again and was finally cleared to drive again two weeks ago... and then, this week my car’s transmission died completely. It’s beyond repair.

We live on a rural backroad with a creek crossing and limited winter plowing, so having a dependable AWD/4WD vehicle isn’t optional for us — it’s essential for getting my daughter to school, getting to work, and simply being able to move through our day-to-day life safely.

This is already a lot for any family… but for us, it’s another layer in what has been an extremely long, painful journey.

Over the last six years, my child and I have navigated intense trauma and adversity that completely changed the course of our lives. When my child was almost three, they disclosed a deeply unsafe and traumatic situation involving a family member. I acted immediately — removed us from the environment, contacted the authorities, and moved us out of state. In the aftermath, we lost nearly everything: family connections, stability, and the life I thought we were building.

Since then, we have had to start over multiple times as I’ve tried to find safety, support, and a stable environment for my child to heal. We’ve moved across states twice, rebuilt from scratch, and kept going even when it felt impossible. We have spent years in therapy doing deeply important work. My focus has always been supporting my child's healing, working, studying, and doing everything I can to break generational patterns and create safety and stability.

Through it all, my daughter and I have been incredibly resilient. I have stayed focused on healing, rebuilding, and giving them the stable, peaceful life they deserve. Finding our way to the Driftless region last year felt like the first time we could breathe again... like we finally found a place where we belonged.

This car loss, right now, is a blow we simply can’t absorb on our own.

I’m reaching out for help so we can continue building the life we’ve worked so hard to create. Funds will go directly toward a safe, reliable AWD/4WD vehicle, along with taxes, registration, insurance, and any basic repairs needed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support — truly, anything helps. I’m deeply grateful.