https://gofund.me/3fc8213c Verified as True by GoFundMe. My name is Mary Goodson. It is very uncomfortable and humbling for me to post this campaign after working hard my entire life. Thank You SO MUCH to everyone who has helped me thus far, but I am not out of the woods yet. I NEED TO RAISE AT LEAST $800 TODAY, AND $15,000+ OVERALL TO GIVE TO MY LANDLORDS AND TO MOVE AGAIN!

I have worked hard my entire life, the last 25 years as a real estate broker, but I suffered a serious accident in 2008 that changed my life forever. Since then I have worked in great pain and had many surgeries. While I was recovering from total knee replacement I had to give up my wonderful, long-time apartment because of COVID and move when my roommates left to go quarantine. I became very isolated and depressed. I looked for a year for a salary-based job, as I had no financial cushion.

When I started a new job at the end of 2022, I suddenly had to move yet again because my new landlords were taking over the entire house. I am a real estate broker by trade, used to making a good living for many years, but real estate is commission-based only, and I needed a regular salaried position as a base before I could get re-established in my field.

I was beginning to learn the complicated new job when I moved into an apartment share/roommate agreement with someone who turned out to be Severely Emotionally and Mentally Unstable. The apartment was far away from my friends and former neighbors. It immediately became a dangerous and terrifying situation for me. I had to spend 10 horrifying weeks living there while trying to find yet another place to move to, over the holiday season in frigid weather, barricaded in my room with the door locked at all times. She turned off the heat in my part of the apartment and changed the wi-fi password so I could not work. They had all my money and I needed to earn more before being able to move again to find a new, safe place.

I had to call the police daily for an escort out of and back into the apt every time I needed to leave to look for new housing, to get food, or to make another complaint with the police against this person. I was threatened and re-traumatized every day and night and was completely sleep-deprived. It felt like I was living in a Horror Movie. I am peaceful, respectful, hardworking, and had never experienced anything like this before.

It was during this time when I was trying to get away from this person that I had a terrible freak accident and was thrown in the air 10 feet and smashed my head, neck, and whole left side of my body into a metal enclosure. I knew I had been badly injured but I kept working so I could get out of there, which I eventually did after another 5 weeks. I worked the new job for 5 months until the excruciating pain in my back and down my left leg to my foot became so unbearable that I could not stand or walk and was bedridden. My foot was completely numb. I was let go from my job because of this.

I cannot describe how bad the pain was. I was hospitalized for 27 agonizing days on a morphine drip and a million other heavy drugs, had back surgery, and then rehabbed for several months to learn to walk again. (Thank God for wonderful doctors!!) I have no family anymore and went through all of this alone.

All of the above left me with severe PTSD and nightmares. I am doing much better now, but it has taken some time.

My unemployment ran out a while ago, I currently have no money other than food stamps, and $144 a month in cash while trying to re-enter the workforce. I owe my rent for many months, ($15,000) and NEED TO PAY AT LEAST $1,500 TODAY, or my landlords say they will take action against me tomorrow. I also need to be able to live until I start earning again in a new position and to cover basic expenses like transportation and my phone. I have applied for Disability but that takes a long time to get and I may be denied the first time and have to appeal.

In addition to my back rent, my landlords have put the house on the market and I must move again! They put a 30-day vacate notice on my bedroom door 2 days ago. I also need to renew my real estate license and pay for my Real Estate Board of NY dues, and I haven't had a haircut since 2022! A lovely way to spend the holidays.

I would be so thankful for any contribution of $50, $100, $250, or more. I need to raise at least $800 today. If everyone can contribute something it adds up! It would be amazing after all the trauma, pain, and isolation that I have experienced.

I want to get back to work and be of service to others. It's true when people say that good health is everything and your life can change instantly.

I am so grateful that I can walk once more and can work again. I am applying for jobs. It is challenging, but I am up for the challenge. I love to work. If anyone reading this knows of anyone hiring please let me know! In addition to real estate I have a great deal of experience in home design, hospitality, research, fundraising, magazines, politics, writing, theater, film, and food.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has helped me. Thank you in advance to those who are about to help me! Please share my story with everyone you think may be willing to help! I look forward to returning your kindness, Mary. https://gofund.me/3fc8213c