Christina Bernardino

Hello everyone, I'm going to start by saying something that's never easy—sometimes you have to put your pride aside and ask for help. This past year has been one of the most difficult seasons our family has ever faced. What started with my unexpected breast cancer diagnosis quickly became a year filled with appointments, biopsies, treatments, and surgeries. In less than a year, I have undergone four surgeries and have been out of work for nearly six months, much of that time without full pay. While I was going through my first surgeries and recovery, Scott faced a major health crisis of his own. He underwent a six-hour surgery that required the removal of three feet of his intestine. He spent two days in the ICU and nearly three weeks hospitalized. The surgery was not optional—without it, he could have become septic, and the outcome could have been life-threatening. Unfortunately, Scott's employer does not offer short-term disability benefits, and because of the size of the company, they are not required to provide them. Between lost income, medical expenses, upfront surgical costs, and everyday living expenses, we have exhausted our savings and even cashed out our 401(k) accounts to keep our family afloat and make sure our children have everything they need. Now we are facing yet another hurdle. Scott is preparing for what we hope will be his final reversal surgery. It is expected to be another lengthy six-hour procedure, followed by approximately 12 weeks of recovery. During that time, we will once again be relying on a single income. I have struggled with asking for help throughout all of this because I know so many people are facing challenges of their own. But after doing everything we can to get through this on our own, I'm at a point where I honestly don't know how else to make it through this next chapter. If you are able to donate, share our story, or simply keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, it would mean more to us than words can express. Every share, every kind word, and every contribution helps lighten the burden and gives us hope as we navigate this difficult journey. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, compassion, and generosity. We are truly grateful.