In 2016 my mom who I love and take care of dearly suffered a major ischemic stroke. I did everything I could financially to keep her in her home but the costs of in home care and my having to work 70 miles away and living 45 miles away put me into financial ruin- I took out liens on vehicles I owned, cashed out my own IRA's and used all my credit cards to keep her in her home and living a decent life. We ended up having to leave and paying out on Assisted Living for another year, most of which I paid out of pocket until a medical emergency sent mom to a full care facility. I lost my full time job as my new manager felt I was missing too much time, felt “bad” as they knew it was attending to my mom, but still needed to let me go.

 Future forward, after struggling for a year and then COVID hit, I was trying to pay back all the Liens and was given 60 days notice to vacate the rental I was in to be as close to my mom as I could. (sidebar – the real estate market here in Seattle area is crazy, many landlords are selling out their rentals due to very high increases in sales values) I ended up being one of those. This meant a substantial impact financially for first, last and deposit on a new rental to find and set me back any forward momentum I had. I found a place but it ended up being infested with fleas and in any other circumstances I would have looked elsewhere due to smell, and state of paint etc. but I had no choice as the rental market was very harsh, fast and expensive.

So I moved into current residency (I wasn't aware of fleas until after move in) already awkward position of non-functioning washer and dryer, smell and paint issues and trying to DIY of flea infestation. It was a failure and making cats and myself miserable. I would end up standing on front porch each morning spraying off on my feet, ankle and legs with OFF, as due to Covid I was working permanently from my kitchen table. I would sit all day at my kitchen table smelling like OFF as I tried diatomaceous earth on the carpets. Someone anonymously donated a brand new washer and dryer to me which was a huge blessing and I will always be grateful.

I ended up paying another $500 out to Orkin to spray home and 40$ for cats to be boarded to eliminate the fleas. During this past year and a half I ended up giving up and filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This is the only bankruptcy I could file as I made 4,000 above threshold to have a Chapter 7 wipe off all the bills owed. So I am paying monthly to a Chapter 13 which basically re-organized all my debts and now am paying off. I don't have room for emergencies.

At the beginning of this year Jan 2nd. I received a notice from the Chapter 13 trustee that I was in arrears $3076 and have 20 days to make up the payments or a motion would be filed to release the bankruptcy. I found out that apparently I was supposed to be paying on the bankruptcy during the filing which I had no idea as my lawyer did not impart that information and I was paying a heavy large amount during the motion filing which I paid up on at the time. I thought the motion was part of the amount owed. The lawyer told me it was in relation to the filing, not the funds. So it's day 15 from notice and taking my mom to have a biopsy on her breast. She is confirmed as positive for Breast Cancer. I am a contract worker and don't get paid holidays and minimal sick hours so this holiday season has been tight anyways and now more hours due to appointments for my mom.  I just went through my own news of having been diagnosed this fall with NER's. (neuro endocrine tumors – pre cancerous in my lungs)

So my mom has breast cancer and I've been trying to figure out what and how to tell her as the stroke is very hard on her as well – appointment is set for 1/26 for the doctor to actually talk to her. Yesterday on 1/24 I received an email notification that my current landlord is taking re-possession of home from property management company and is giving me 60 day vacate notice.  So I am on day 24 from notice of bankruptcy to file a motion to dismiss, due to funds in arrears from last years filing. Home rentals now are at 600-1000 more monthly than they were 2 years ago or even in the short time since moving here a little over a year ago.

So 1st month, Last month and deposit would be I am hoping to find a home around $2200 rent monthly- would be about $4400 plus a deposit of estimating $600. + the Bankruptcy arrears would be $8000 total. (Update: As of morning 1/28- I am floored by the support and have been able to start looking for places to rent as contrbutions are almost to $4,000) Thank you so much!!

That would be the minimum I would need to get through this period and keep my bankruptcy moving forward. I will be losing at least 6-10 hours weekly of hours for work due to appointments. I am hoping to adjust my hours as best I can to make those up but ¼ of my weekly pay is substantial.

I am asking for help. I am reaching out to you. I don't even know how to handle the cancer diagnosis and am just trying to not think about my own lung time bombs and now my home is up in the air. Moving is going to cost time, money and that's if I can find a home. I need to stay as close as I can to my mom which always puts tension on this whole situation as I would be adding the cost of a ferry if I opened up my home search to the broader Seattle area.

I need help. I am so raw now that I really am lost feeling. If I didn't love my mom so much I don't think I'd be able to get out of bed.  If I can get these funds raised it will take a huge burden off of me of time and stress of trying to figure out how and where to live. If I can raise the funds, I will just need to find where to live. I am reaching out to lawyer to find if there are ways to get my bankruptcy back on track. I have reached out to a friend who has struggled previously and has super experience on finances and has promised to help me learn budgeting and start paying off the bankruptcy, paying back myself and hopefully put something in savings as I have nothing. I do feel like as a ray of hope I can't see how home prices would get higher, so my bankruptcy has also noted that they will make adjustments to future payments to take into account the increase of rent.

I feel hopeless and lost.  My goal for this fundraiser is $3000, it won't answer everything but will get me the upfront money to put in front of a new landlord and that will be the momentum I need.

I need a win and this unknown would be a win. To know I have another goal to move to. In the mean time giving all I can to support my mother through her cancer and living the best life we can by simple means.

Anything would help – but if 20 of my friends donated $100 which I know is a lot – I would be nearly there for a first months rent and deposit on a new rental. It's asking a ton and I am groveling at this point as I feel so helpless. I am always a solution finder and I am lost. My goal is to raise this by February 28th so I will have a month to find a home and move by March 31st.  

I appreciate any support and am willing to meet with you if you can support in some other way as well. Or have advice or would like to know more. Whatever it takes.  I am grateful and humbled by any support offered.

Sincerest and humblest regards,

Deb