Content Warning: Before you read our story, I want to let you know that it includes mentions of child sexual abuse, childhood cancer, and mental health struggles. These are painful parts of our journey, but they’re also the reason I’m reaching out for help today. Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
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For most people, a house is just a place to live. For my family, it’s our safe place, our fresh start, and the one thing holding us together. Today, that home is falling apart, and I’m asking for help because I can’t save it on my own.
My home shelters more than just me. I care for my two sisters, who struggle with mental illness and aren’t able to live independently. My youngest daughter still lives with me, and recently my oldest daughter and her daughter moved back home while they work to rebuild their lives. Every room in this house is filled with someone I love, someone who depends on having a safe place to call home.
Life hasn’t been easy for us. When my oldest daughter was just 14 months old, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. Watching your child fight for her life is something no parent can ever truly prepare for, and that journey changed our family forever.
Years later, our lives were turned upside down again when my soon-to-be ex-husband was imprisoned for molesting our son. Overnight, everything I thought I knew disappeared. He had always handled the finances, the bills, the shopping, and the home repairs. Suddenly, I had to learn how to do everything on my own while helping my children and family heal from unimaginable trauma.
There were days when depression and anxiety convinced me I wasn’t strong enough. But little by little, I found my footing. I worked hard to become the woman I wanted my children to see. A mother they could depend on, someone who wouldn’t give up no matter how difficult life became.
The one battle I haven’t been able to win is my home.
The house was already aging when we bought it, and over the years it’s continued to deteriorate. The roof leaks every time it rains. The ceilings and walls are breaking apart from water damage. There is little to no insulation, making our electric bills overwhelming throughout the year. I want so badly to fix these problems, but after everything we’ve been through, my finances and damaged credit simply haven’t allowed me to keep up with the repairs.
Every day I look around this house and wish I could give my family better. My sisters deserve a safe place where they can feel secure. My children deserve a home that isn’t slowly falling apart around them. My granddaughter deserves happy memories in a house filled with love instead of worry.
I’m not asking for luxury. I’m asking for the chance to make our home safe again.
Every donation, every share, every word of encouragement, and every prayer means more than I can express. Your kindness will help repair our roof, restore our walls and ceilings, improve insulation, and give my family the safe, stable home they’ve fought so hard to keep.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can give. Your compassion gives us hope that brighter days are ahead.
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