My name is Nicholas, and I live with my girlfriend Angela, who is partially blind. Since we bought our home in May 2023, we've faced a series of emergencies—replacing our boiler, handling ongoing repairs, and taking on new debts just to keep our home livable. As Angela’s direct home healthcare worker, my fixed income is stretched thin, and the financial strain has made it nearly impossible to give her a life outside our home. Most months, Angela only has me for company, and our home, built in the 1920s, barely meets basic standards. Temporary fixes have left us struggling to keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer, and the mental toll on both of us has been immense. Angela’s blindness means she relies on me for daily care, but lately, I’ve only been able to meet her basic healthcare needs, not the quality of life she deserves.

This month has been especially difficult. In desperation, I tried several quick cash opportunities found online, hoping to improve our situation without involving Angela directly, as her fixed social security income is already stretched to its limits. Unfortunately, these all turned out to be scams, and I didn’t recognize the warning signs due to my lack of experience and the urgency of our needs. The losses from these scams have pushed us past our limits, both financially and emotionally. Angela was deeply affected when she learned that the funds we needed for monthly expenses had been lost, adding to her mental and emotional strain. On top of this, I have my own medical and mental health needs that require prescription medication and supplements. Recently, I tried natural testosterone supplements to help maintain my health and energy, but they negatively interacted with my medication, affecting my judgment and, in turn, Angela’s well-being.

The funds raised will first go toward paying off immediate debts, including smaller credit cards we’ve had to use for groceries, cat food, and toiletries. We’ll also work on reducing loans taken out to cover previous emergencies. Beyond that, I hope to improve Angela’s daily comfort and well-being—repairing or replacing her aging computer so she can connect with others, bringing in more groceries to ensure she has enough to eat, and making additional home repairs as funds allow. Angela’s needs come first, and once her situation is less burdensome, I’ll be able to focus on both of us, rather than just surviving day to day. Maintaining our vehicle is also essential so I can continue taking Angela to her specialist appointments. Any support will help us move toward a more stable and hopeful future.