Support The Spellman Family in Overcoming Hardships

My name is Bryan and I feel as if it is time for me to get vulnerable and set aside any remaining little bit of pride I have to seek some assistance. I still maintain much pride in all I have done to this point on my own and if you know me you know just how much I do and push myself even if my body and mind suffer for it. I have worked for 4 months and over 60 hours trying to fix up our 12-year-old 180k-mile family van (our only vehicle where our family of 6 can fit). I replaced struts, control arms, the cooling system, a waterpump, many hoses, air bag sensors, computers, brakes, gaskets, hubs, and more. Just to have the engine head gasket leak and throw a compressor at our celebratory ice cream outing. So now it sits at a shop because I have worn my body out. I have 3 blown discs in my back and all of the work leading up to this local trip had already taken a huge toll on me.

I've also had to fix up our 27-year-old pop-up camper for another season, and what happens? The bearings (which I recently replaced to avoid this situation) shredded off and welded what little remains of themselves onto the axle. Camping is the only vacation our family can afford.

We have had countless problems in the past 6 months and have spent $3,838.50 on the van trying to get it safe and sound for the next 100k, plus more spent on the camper. We looked into trading in the van and trying to get another family vehicle, but our credit is shot because we trusted a company/program that we thought would help our credit, but it did the opposite. Now, in all honesty, we are on the verge of bankruptcy. So a new vehicle is out of the picture. The van is solid with all of the new work I've done, except for the engine. A local shop just estimated that they can put a used engine into it for around $3,200 (keep in mind that is just an estimate). This is the cheapest option that would allow us the chance to not go further into debt or be without a family vehicle for possibly six months or more.

With a family of 6, it is impossible for us to fit into our sedan. We have to take multiple trips and are trying to make due. Our family has been through hell and back in other areas of our lives constantly with the health issues of family members and appliances breaking.

We are deep in the hole and have been digging ourselves out. We are proud of what we have done, but it is still not enough and we are breaking. We would like to raise money to pay for the remaining repair bills that are on credit, as well as what still needs to be done. To allow us the chance to transport our family and still get my wife to work. I have done all I can on my own.

I am an at-home dad, with a per-diem job that starts soon, and I am on disability. My wife is a school teacher and that is all we have for income. There is only so much I can do. I am proud of what I have done and all I will do to provide for my family and plan to continue to use my talents and fix things to better our lives and save money, but now ask for your help. If you can help, we plan to use the funds to pay the remaining parts bills, the compressor, condenser and belt stuff, fix the van up, get the used engine, and set aside any leftovers for future repairs, and work with someone (an attorney) to help fix the credit mess that the financial group put us in a year ago and to get us back on track to a brighter future.

I do what I can for my family and others. I pour my heart into everything. I sometimes don't know my breaking point. I know I am basically at it and I need, we need, your assistance if you can offer any bit it would help. Thank you so much for your time. Please keep us in your prayers.