My dear friend of several years, Mela Shea, is one of the most awe-inspiring people I've had the good fortune of connecting with. She is the author of The Vagrant Gimp, a stand-up comedian, and a devoted mother to her daughter Roz. Mela is also a disabled woman living with cerebral palsy who has never once allowed living with disability to define her.

For the past several years, Mela has been enduring a long and very difficult divorce. While she and Roz are still living in the marital home with her soon to be ex-husband, he has begun withholding support for any household needs not legally mandated- like food, clothing and home & vehicle repairs- in an effort to make life harder for Mela before custody proceedings begin. Mela fears his intent is to frame her as incapable of raising their daughter alone despite the demonstrable reality that Mela has been the sole provider and caregiver for their daughter since her birth.

Recently this withholding included refusing to repair a broken interior sewer line in the home they share, which resulted in repeated sewage leaks into the basement. Mela ultimately had to borrow the funds to pay for the repairs herself, with no help from the co-owner of the home.

Despite severe physical limitations that prevent her from maintaining a traditional full-time job, Mela works tirelessly to support herself and her daughter. She's a gig-worker, juggling ride-share, package delivery, lice removal services, pet-sitting and remote data-entry work- essentially doing whatever she can to make ends meet. Her determination to stay independent, provide for her daughter and maintain dignity through constant adversity is nothing short of heroic.

At a time when social programs have been drastically cut and the socio-political climate becomes increasingly less safe for individuals living with disability, I am asking anyone who can to pitch in and help Mela & Roz transition into safer, healthier living conditions, to lend a hand.

Please consider contributing and sharing this campaign- every penny will go directly to Mela & Roz as they move forward.