Hi! Me again. I know some

of you are tired of our story, so keep on moving if so. ✨

I’m putting it all out there bc well, 2025 ‍♀️. This is how a lot of us live.

Most of you know I was an Operations Manager for a large bank making bank $$ and then had thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery that left me permanently disabled and paralyzed from the waste (T11) down. When I was on long term disability, I was making half of my salary, but Chris was also working so it wasn’t AS bad. Then, in November 2024 my disability payments stopped. While on disability, I went to school and became a licensed nail technician in TN mid September. I tried from November - April to make this career/entrepreneurship work to no avail.

During this time, Chris and I started the process of gaining custody of his 2 children, 13 and 17. In April, they officially were with us full time. Chris’s salary alone has never really even been enough for one person to live on, nonetheless 4 ppl. And kids who EAT. (If you know, you know.) Thankfully, I was able to get a temp job starting May 1st 2025 and it turned into a permanent position August 11th!! I received a significant raise with great benefits.

I could have applied for SSDI, but I knew at my age I didn’t want that, I wanted to work and keep busy. I’m a “go go go” person anyway. It took almost 3 years of healing and growing to finally feel capable and independent enough to work full time. I was also able to ween myself off all meds except mental health, and despite my chronic pain, I carry on. Because my disability through my previous employer ended November 1, 2024, and that’s when our expenses grew, it put us severely behind on several bills. I’ve lived in my home for 8 years without ever being late on rent…until 2025. ALSO, INFLATION- geez.

Getting caught up is the hard part. Once we’re caught up, with both Chris and I working full time, we’ll be solid. However, I am $750 (almost another $750 September 1st) behind on rent, $2,000 behind on our car payment (we have 1 car we share) and almost $900 for KUB. I am happy to share these details/screenshots as proof.

Also, I have to get a new wheelchair for upstairs bc 3 years ago I bought a haggard one off FB marketplace and the wheels are falling off and one break does not work. And it creaks, lol. And no, insurance will not buy me a 2nd wheelchair just because we have 2 floors where we live. AND I’m filling for bankruptcy bc I have too many credit card balances, cash advances and high interest loans to even get ahead at all.

I know SO many of you have helped me in many different ways since my disability and I will never ever be able to fully repay everyone in the ways I want to. If you’ve given me money, I owe you money or a wreath, then no more! Lol. I never ever thought I would be in this position because I’ve been hyper independent for 10-15 years or so. But, I remember when I first became disabled I was encouraged by my loved ones to ask for help. Once I was able to, I realized it’s ok to do so. And not everyone will like it or agree. But you have to remember, I have NO immediate family to help and Chris only has his mother, who’s in Chattanooga and never been in a position to help financially. We’ve been on our own with support from our community.

Anything helps, even grocery deliveries or paying bills directly.

Please share if you can. Love you all.