Hello to all and thanks for reading my story,

my name is Leslie, I’m 49 years old, and I never thought I’d be in this position—alone, in pain, and with nowhere else to turn but here I am.

Before the pandemic, life was amazing. I worked hard for everything I had/have and was able to provide a stable and happy life for me and my family. I had a stable job for 12 years, that I loved, working for Romanoff Renovations and was one of the top CSR's in the company, and finally was able to buy a home for my family that I was proud of, especially being the 1st, and so far, only member of my immediate family to do so, and had a family I loved and adored and would do anything for. When COVID hit, everything changed. I lost my mother, my aunt, my best friend, several close cousins, my employer was no longer able to keep their doors open in the Atlanta market and me and several others found ourselves without a job, and, in the end, even my wife and kids as my wife suffered from several mental illnesses which required therapy, doctors' visits and several medications which, due to covid restrictions, she was no able to go to the doctor or therapist so everything was done over the phone. With the constant change of doctors, therapists, and medications she decided to stop taking her meds and in 30 days she was a completely different person. She lost her battle with her mental illnesses and while I was gone one day she disappeared with my children and several other things and valuables but most importantly, my kids' which can't be replaced. I haven't seen or heard from them since 2022 and have not been able to get any help finding them. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2019 and prior to the pandemic I was able to keep it under control, but the weight of that loss was unbearable, and the stress took a toll on my health. My type 2 diabetes worsened, and over time, it led to severe foot wounds and nerve damage from neuropathy that has sent me to the ER several times (I've lost count at this point) and has left me in constant pain and completely unable to work.

I bought my home during Covid and moved my family to the country of West Ga. during the pandemic, thinking I was keeping them safe. But now they’re gone, and I’m here alone, struggling just to survive. There is nothing around me. Nothing is close or within walking distance and a vehicle is a must have out here as there is no public transportation and even an Uber ride is $50 to get to the hospital. Because of my foot wounds I can’t even put on shoes to leave the house, and without a vehicle (I had to sell my truck just to pay bills), I have no way to get to doctor’s appointments or even buy the foods I need for proper nutrition for a diabetic. I’ve reached out to every resource I could find, charities, organizations, government programs, churches, but no one has been able to help. Most require in-person visits or phone communication, and I can’t do either. My cell phone was cut off last week, again, leaving me completely disconnected from the outside world. Without a phone, I can’t even apply for work-from-home jobs. I've been selling my belongings to help pay bills, but I can't sell my belongings fast enough to keep up with bills. And now not having a phone has made it even harder to do so because having a phone is the main way to communicate with people.

My home is in foreclosure so right now I am on the verge of losing my home as I have had no way to pay my mortgage, my utilities are about to be shut off on the 5th, I've received a disconnect notice for my internet and I can’t afford my medications or the proper food I need to manage my diabetes and I don't even have a way to get these things without a vehicle or ride anyways. I was in the emergency room the weekend before last because of my foot wounds, and I desperately need help changing my bandages. On top of everything, my air conditioning stopped working last spring, so I suffered through the summer heat, and my hot water heater stopped working in September, so I’ve gone all winter without hot water. I'm unable to fix these without my homeowners' insurance, which I can't afford so my home is uninsured so i cringe when the wind blows too hard because of all the trees around here and all I can do is pray. I’ve been doing everything I can to survive, but I’m out of options.

I'm not comfortable asking for help especially as a man who has been able to build a life for my family and I on my own, but I don’t have a choice. I’ve done everything I can to try to fix this on my own, but I’ve run out of options. It’s a humbling and vulnerable feeling to put my struggles out in the open like this, but the truth is, I need the kindness of people like you to help me get through this. I am not looking for a handout, I am looking for a lifeline. Just a chance to stay afloat long enough to get the care I need and try to rebuild my life. No one should have to choose between food, medicine, and keeping a roof over their head. But that’s where I am. Every donation, no matter how small, is another day I can keep fighting. It’s another day where I don’t have to be stuck here waiting on the dark when the lights go out, wondering how much longer I can take this. This is a slow death, and I deserve to live. I don't want to lose my feet from not being able to get the simple things needed like proper care, medicines, and the right foods. If any of you are familiar with Mt Zion in Carrolton, then you know food banks won't deliver here, Amazon Fresh won't deliver here and Walmart won't deliver ANY food items here. My only options are things like Instacart, Uber, etc. which can be extremely expensive especially to someone with 0 income and I don't have any friends or family here that can help. Covid made sure of that and took the only people I had left.

I’ve been selling everything I can just to survive, but it’s not enough. And now, I’m even having to do something that’s breaking my heart by selling my daughter’s things. I've tried to keep from doing this in the hopes that one day I would get my family back and my daughter would be able to come back to the life she loved so much with all her things being right where they were when she was taken from her home. I never imagined I would be in this position, and the thought of packing up my life with no place to go is unbearable. But soon, I won’t have a choice and will be homeless. I don’t want to believe that my situation is hopeless, but I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t felt that way. I hate to even think this, but sometimes it feels like, because I’m a black man, people are less willing to help. But I’m not asking as a man of color, I’m asking as a regular human being. I’m just a normal man. A regular person. I love and feel, have goals and passions just like everyone else. I know my life will never be the same and that's not what I'm looking for, but I truly need help. I've always been someone who has always helped others when I could, donating to shelters, The Hope House, and giving to people when I see them needing help, and now I need a little help myself.

If anyone can find it in their heart to donate anything, even just a few dollars, it will go directly toward keeping a roof over my head, keeping the lights, other needed utilities, and my phone on, and making sure I can get the medical care I desperately need. If you can’t donate, I beg you to please, please share this with others. Even a simple share could be the reason someone sees this and decides to help. If I could turn things around on my own, I would. But I can’t do this alone. I need help. And if you find it in your heart to give, or even just to spread the word, I will be forever grateful.

I swear to all of you this is not any kind of scam to get money. my story is 100% true. Anyone willing to help, I have no problem with showing you my foreclosure statements that came as certified mail that I had to sign for. I have no problem with showing you my bills and disconnect notices. I have no problem showing you my release letter from my job advising they had to close their doors due to lack of work in the Atlanta market. I have no problem showing you my diagnosis and medical records and all my visits to the ER since 2022. I have uploaded pics showing my foot wounds, which have been constant since 2022, if you can stomach it (SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THOSE PICS). I have no problem showing you all my craigslist posts showing all my personal possessions and my kid's personal possessions for sale to be able to pay bills. I even started a website ([email protected]) to help those suffering from or know someone who is suffering from mental illnesses because of what I went through with my wife and her mental illnesses because I know I'm not the only one going through this and I wanted to be an advocate and help others but I don't think it's still up as I can't afford to pay GoDaddy for my domain but I really wanted to help others by helping to inform and educate those who were just as ignorant about mental illness as I was. MY STORY IS REAL. Keep in mind, my phone is off but there are other ways I can show you proof like through email until AT&T cuts off my internet.

Anyone willing to help is a friend for life and will always be welcome in my home, while I'm still in it, for a cup of coffee or a hot meal or even if you need somewhere to lay your head. You are more than welcome and this way you will be able to physically see my story is real and I'm just a regular kindhearted man who right now just needs some help.

So, to all of you that at least made it this far in my story and plea for help, thank you for your time, your kindness, and for simply seeing me. It means more than I can ever put into words. Whether you're willing to help or not, don't forget to smile, it can help make someone's day. Peace and love.