Hi, I’m Michelle, and I’d like to introduce you to my friend Fran.

I’ve known Fran for over 30 years. When we first met, she was starting over - taking classes at a community college after leaving school in the 10th grade and later receiving her GED. She was looking for a math tutor, and even then, one thing was clear: Fran doesn’t give up. No matter how hard something is, she keeps going.

That has been the story of her entire life.

Fran’s childhood was filled with instability and hardship. As a very young child, she experienced extreme poverty and spent time on the streets. She was later placed in foster care, where she hoped to find safety, but instead faced more fear and uncertainty. She grew up without the consistent protection and support every child deserves, and much of her early life was shaped by surviving situations no child should have to endure.

At 17, she married and moved across the country, hoping for a fresh start. But life continued to be difficult. She struggled with the lasting effects of her early experiences and her mental health while trying to build a life and raise her children. Over time, those struggles took a toll on her relationships, and losses followed that she still carries with her today.

And still—Fran kept going.

She put herself through school, earning her associate’s degree, then her bachelor’s, and ultimately her master’s degree in social work. She became a licensed clinical social worker and built her own private practice, dedicating her life to helping others heal from the kinds of pain she understands deeply.

Along the way, she also faced breast cancer. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation - and she made it through.

Fran is someone who creates, even when life feels like it’s taking things away. Walk into her home and you’ll see woodworking projects, creative ideas, and pieces she’s built with her own hands. Making things has been her peace, her outlet, and her way of grounding herself through everything she has faced.

She stands just 4 feet 9 inches tall, but she has carried more than most people ever will - and she has carried it largely on her own.

Now, at 65, Fran is facing one of the hardest challenges yet.

She has been diagnosed with severe degenerative disc disease affecting her spine and is preparing for complex spinal surgery. She will spend time in the hospital, then in rehabilitation, followed by weeks of recovery at home. During this time, she will be unable to work. Her therapy practice, which she worked so hard to build, is already closing.

At the same time, she is facing overwhelming financial strain. Her home - the first place she has ever truly been able to call her own - is now in forbearance. She has mounting bills, tax debt, and repairs that must be completed so she can sell the home and move into something more manageable.

I have watched Fran survive things most people cannot imagine. I have watched her rebuild her life again and again. But this time is different.

For the first time since I’ve known her, Fran is scared. And I am too, because I don’t know how to help her on my own.

Fran has spent her entire life getting back up without asking for help. Not after everything she endured growing up. Not after her marriage ended. Not after cancer. Not after building her life from nothing.

That is why I am asking now - on her behalf.

Your support will go directly toward her living expenses during recovery, helping her manage her debts, and allowing her to prepare her home for sale so she can move forward with stability and dignity.

Every donation, no matter the size, is a reminder to Fran that she is not alone - that people see her, care about her, and want to help her through this next chapter.

If you’re unable to give, please consider sharing her story.

Thank you for helping me support my friend.

Michelle