I’m a 43-year-old mother raising my 10-year-old son, and I’ve recently faced two serious health scares — one cancer diagnosis was ruled out, and another is pending a biopsy. My doctors have strongly advised me to reduce stress and focus on rest, but recent events have made that nearly impossible.

I’ve been through a lot in my life. I lost my parents at a young age, graduated college in 2005, and weathered the economic crash of 2008–2009, which brought years of job instability. Despite these challenges, I stayed strong. In 2015, after my son was born, I found myself in a domestic violence situation. For seven years, I fought for our safety, leading to a trial in family and criminal court. I won full custody and a restraining order, and my son was in third grade at the time.

I returned to full-time remote work, but in 2023, my entire department was laid off. I managed to keep us afloat with savings and gig work until December 2025, when funds ran out and my health became a focus. In January 2026, we lost our home and car. The grind has been tough, and we need a reliable rental car to get my son to school, as well as help covering rent for the next three months.

Your support will give us the stability we need to focus on my health, recover from recent financial challenges due to job insecurity, and help my son make it to his graduation, scheduled for the first week of June.. It will also give me the time and energy to pursue a job that can fully support us without putting additional physical strain on my body. Mostly, I feel alone. We don’t have family as a community, so even a small contribution would give us the feeling of being seen and believed in. I am deeply grateful for any help you can offer — your support truly means the world to us.

If you are unable to contribute financially, sharing our story is just as helpful. For those who would like to send words of encouragement or support, I welcome that with open arms.

I'm deeply grateful for any help you can offer.