This week, I was the victim of a domestic violence incident that also left my car badly damaged. The vehicle is now unsafe to drive, with repairs estimated between $2,500 and $3,500. This event left me completely blindsided, and I don’t want the effects to trickle down and affect Lucas.

Normally, I would never ask for help publicly, but this car isn’t just transportation for me. It’s how I get my son, Lucas, to his therapy appointments. Lucas has Level 3 autism, and these therapies have changed his life. He’s gone from being nonverbal to using small words and signs, and from unpredictable behavior to calmer, more consistent progress. Losing this reliable transportation puts all of that progress at risk.

I’m on a limited income and care for Lucas full-time, so I’m unfortunately unable to work, but I am going to school. Without a way to pay for repairs, the only alternative would be to surrender my car, since I can’t afford payments on top of also paying for repairs, which would damage both my and my mother’s credit and make recovery even harder.

If this were just about me, I’d quietly figure it out. But this is about making sure Lucas keeps moving forward, so I’m swallowing my pride to ask for help with repairs so we don’t lose the stability he’s worked so hard to build.

I know times are tough for everyone, so there’s absolutely no expectation or obligation to contribute. The kindness, emotional support, and love we’ve already received mean the world to us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, sharing, and supporting us in any way you can.