The last six months have thrown more at our family than we ever expected. Back in May, our daughter Sadie was hospitalized for dehydration due to intense GI symptoms, and then a month later, just a week before Jeff and I left for our honeymoon, he lost his job, and then his insurance from that job. Since then, he's been applying everywhere, often without even getting an interview. Recently, Sadie was hospitalized again, this time with Staphylococcal Scorched Skin Syndrome, or SSSS—and while MassHealth may be covering her care, everything else has kept piling up.

Right now both of our cars are failing — mine needs to be replaced entirely, and Jeff's is barely holding on. Rent is due every month whether or not there's income coming in, and with Jeff still job-hunting, we're watching our savings run out fast.

I work as an educational assistant in a special education classroom, supporting kids with severe autism. Its work I truly love, but it doesn't pay much, and right now it's not enough to cover this gap on my own. Working this job gives me so many skills and resources and way to better support Sadie and her Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is pretty high functioning, but helping her learn how to navigate life is a full time job in itself. This schedule also allows me to get home around the same time she does after school, so I’m there to support her in whatever skills she worked on that day. 

I also work a second job as well to bring more money in as well, but with the price of everything raising, it’s been next to impossible to catch up on things. 

We're not asking for more than we need to get through this stretch — just enough to cover rent, get me a reliable car, and give Jeff room to find the right job instead of taking the first one out of desperation. Any amount helps, and if you can't give, we understand completely. Times are difficult for everyone right now, and a share means just as much.

Thank you for reading this far, and for whatever you're able to do.