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When I purchased this home back in 2004 after finally getting away from an extremely abusive marriage, all I could see was that the price was right and that I would finally be safe - hundreds of miles away from my now ex-husband. As a single mother of 3 children on a limited income, I saw how I would be able to live completely mortgage and rent free. I didn't however see the major repairs that this house required - nor did I have the money to make such repairs. Over time, of course things got worse - and it brings me up to the point of where I am today.

The roof on this house is so badly deteriorated that it is leaking very badly in the downstairs bathroom, dining room, kitchen and front door areas. It has leaked so badly that now mold has started to form in the bathroom ceiling and the drywall has slowly been falling away on the one wall. The slightest wind and you will find shingles blown off and laying on the ground. The roof is so bad that I am fearful that even the boards underneath the shingles may need to be replaced.

Realize that this is my last resort in trying to come up with the funds required to get this new roof. I have tried applying to government grants for home improvement but unfortunately I do not qualify because 1. my property taxes are not paid up to date (I owe approximately $2000 just in property taxes), and 2. the size of the house is larger than the specified guideline parameters. Nor do I qualify for a loan of any sort as 1. I make a mere $200 a month working and 2. have bad past credit (being a single mom has taken some serious tolls on me - including financially!).

So the goal here is to get a new roof installed - and as soon as possible so that any further damage to the house is avoided. I also worry about the mold forming in the bathroom especially and one day the roof caving in in there. While my children have grown to teenagers now, I still have to worry about their health.

I have uploaded pictures and this story at Chip-In to show you the extent of the damage done especially in the bathroom area - and a view of the shingles as they are right now on the roof. Admittedly I realize that my house also needs some repair on the stucco, windows and such but right now my main concern is the roof. I'm surprised it hasn't caved in on me by now.

I thank everyone in advance for helping me with this. I do not normally like asking for help from anyone but at this point I am finding that I have no other alternative.

Please view photos of the damage, etc at my Chip-In page at http://escapetofreedom.chipin.com/imperative-home-repairs

I am a 48yo male. I have about $3000 total in medical bills. I have had a heart condition since i was 21. About 15 years ago I went for heart surgery and got a staph infection in my chest. I was in the hospital for months fighting this and was told I would not live. I am lucky to be alive 15 years later. However the staph damaged my heart. It enlarged it and over time I developed heart failure in 2004. Then I became diabetic in 2005. The staph also destroyed bone in my chest. I had to have my sternum removed. I also developed irregular heart beats leaving me dizzy most of the time. This left me disabled on Social Security and medicare (which I appreciate but dont like being on "the system .. its wrong). Before this I always work 60 to 100 hours a week. Which also contributed my poor health. In 2008 I had my second heart attack (a minor one). It was actually lucky for me. Doctors installed a defibrillator with pacing technology. My dizzy spells were finally under control. Since then I have been working hard to build strength so I can go back to work and have a normal productive life. My car ..is no longer road worthy. Needs about $2300 in repairs. Now I have trouble making appointments to my Cardiologist, primary care Physician and physical therapy. This year i have missed 6 doctors appointments and had to stop all therapy. I also have trouble picking up medication on time so i go with out them sometimes up to a week. I get $1500/mo from Social Security. $96 of that goes toward medicare insurance premium. My rent is $500/mo. My medications are $400/mo and that is with prescription help. With out that help my meds are $1476. My utilities run $400/on average. The rest I spend on food, car insurance and medical bills ($3000 which i pay $25 to $100/mo when i can). I am asking for any help. If I don't get help my health will continue to decline. I will die within a year or two. I just starting gaining muscles back in my legs and arms I still have a long way to go. I need to get cardiac therapy to make my heart stronger. It isn't something I can do at home because I need to be monitored the whole time. Please help. Time is important I have already lost 5 months of therapy and i am getting weaker. I beg you. Please.

I am a 48yo male. I have about $3000 total in medical bills. I have had a heart condition since i was 21. About 15 years ago I went for heart surgery and got a staph infection in my chest. I was in the hospital for months fighting this and was told I would not live. I am lucky to be alive 15 years later. However the staph damaged my heart. It enlarged it and over time I developed heart failure in 2004. Then I became diabetic in 2005. The staph also destroyed bone in my chest. I had to have my sternum removed. I also developed irregular heart beats leaving me dizzy most of the time. This left me disabled on Social Security and medicare (which I appreciate but dont like being on "the system .. its wrong). Before this I always work 60 to 100 hours a week. Which also contributed my poor health. In 2008 I had my second heart attack (a minor one). It was actually lucky for me. Doctors installed a defibrillator with pacing technology. My dizzy spells were finally under control. Since then I have been working hard to build strength so I can go back to work and have a normal productive life. My car ..is no longer road worthy. Needs about $2300 in repairs. Now I have trouble making appointments to my Cardiologist, primary care Physician and physical therapy. This year i have missed 6 doctors appointments and had to stop all therapy. I also have trouble picking up medication on time so i go with out them sometimes up to a week. I get $1500/mo from Social Security. $96 of that goes toward medicare insurance premium. My rent is $500/mo. My medications are $400/mo and that is with prescription help. With out that help my meds are $1476. My utilities run $400/on average. The rest I spend on food, car insurance and medical bills ($3000 which i pay $25 to $100/mo when i can). I am asking for any help. If I don't get help my health will continue to decline. I will die within a year or two. I just starting gaining muscles back in my legs and arms I still have a long way to go. I need to get cardiac therapy to make my heart stronger. It isn't something I can do at home because I need to be monitored the whole time. Please help. Time is important I have already lost 5 months of therapy and i am getting weaker. I beg you. Please.

I am a 48yo male. I have about $3000 total in medical bills. I have had a heart condition since i was 21. About 15 years ago I went for heart surgery and got a staph infection in my chest. I was in the hospital for months fighting this and was told I would not live. I am lucky to be alive 15 years later. However the staph damaged my heart. It enlarged it and over time I developed heart failure in 2004. Then I became diabetic in 2005. The staph also destroyed bone in my chest. I had to have my sternum removed. I also developed irregular heart beats leaving me dizzy most of the time. This left me disabled on Social Security and medicare (which I appreciate but dont like being on "the system .. its wrong). Before this I always work 60 to 100 hours a week. Which also contributed my poor health. In 2008 I had my second heart attack (a minor one). It was actually lucky for me. Doctors installed a defibrillator with pacing technology. My dizzy spells were finally under control. Since then I have been working hard to build strength so I can go back to work and have a normal productive life. My car ..is no longer road worthy. Needs about $2300 in repairs. Now I have trouble making appointments to my Cardiologist, primary care Physician and physical therapy. This year i have missed 6 doctors appointments and had to stop all therapy. I also have trouble picking up medication on time so i go with out them sometimes up to a week. I get $1500/mo from Social Security. $96 of that goes toward medicare insurance premium. My rent is $500/mo. My medications are $400/mo and that is with prescription help. With out that help my meds are $1476. My utilities run $400/on average. The rest I spend on food, car insurance and medical bills ($3000 which i pay $25 to $100/mo when i can). I am asking for any help. If I don't get help my health will continue to decline. I will die within a year or two. I just starting gaining muscles back in my legs and arms I still have a long way to go. I need to get cardiac therapy to make my heart stronger. It isn't something I can do at home because I need to be monitored the whole time. Please help. Time is important I have already lost 5 months of therapy and i am getting weaker. I beg you. Please.

I am a 48yo male. I have had a heart condition since i was 21. About 15 years ago I went for heart surgery and got a staph infection in my chest. I was in the hospital for months fighting this and was told I would not live. I am lucky to be alive 15 years later. However the staph damaged my heart. It enlarged it and over time I developed heart failure in 2004. Then I became diabetic in 2005. The staph also destroyed bone in my chest. I had to have my sternum removed. I also developed irregular heart beats leaving me dizzy most of the time. This left me disabled on Social Security and medicare. Before this I always work 60 to 100 hours a week. Which also contributed my poor health. In 2008 I had my second heart attack (a minor one). It was actually lucky for me. Doctor installed a defibrillator with pacing technology. My dizzy spells were finally under control. Since then I have been working hard to build strength so I can go back to work and have a normal productive life. My car .. 1996 Chevy Corsica is no longer road worthy. Now I have trouble making appointments to my Cardiologist, primary care Physician and physical therapy. This year i have missed 6 doctors appointments and had to stop all therapy. I also have trouble picking up medication on time so i got with out them sometimes up to a week. I didn't realize how important my car was until i couldn't use it. I get $1500/mo from Social Security. $96 of that goes toward medicare insurance premium. My rent is $500/mo. My medications are $400/mo and that is with prescription help. With out that help my meds are $1476. My utilities run $400/on average. The rest I spend on food, car insurance and medical bills. Other than socks and underwear I have not bought any clothes in 15 years ... nothing. I am asking for any help. Most important i need to get a car or fix my car which needs $2300 in repairs. Exhaust, brakes, bodywork and a windshield. If I have wheels I can finish getting back into shape and work to take care of everything else. If I get the help I need from here I PROMISE when I go back to work I will come back here and help people DOUBLE the amount of help I got. Unfortunately if I don't get help my health will go backwards. I will die within a year or two. I just starting gaining muscles back in my legs and arms I still have a long way to go. I need to get cardiac therapy to make my heart stronger. It isn't something I can do at home because I need to be monitored the whole time. Please help. Time is important I have already lost 5 months of therapy and my legs are getting weaker and i am getting weaker. I beg you. Please. But if prayers are all you can give I will appreciate that also. God Bless you all and your families.

I am a 48yo male. I have had a heart condition since i was 21. About 15 years ago I went for heart surgery and got a staph infection in my chest. I was in the hospital for months fighting this and was told I would not live. I am lucky to be alive 15 years later. However the staph damaged my heart. It enlarged it and over time I developed heart failure in 2004. Then I became diabetic in 2005. The staph also destroyed bone in my chest. I had to have my sternum removed. I also developed irregular heart beats leaving me dizzy most of the time. This left me disabled on Social Security and medicare. Before this I always work 60 to 100 hours a week. Which also contributed my poor health. In 2008 I had my second heart attack (a minor one). It was actually lucky for me. Doctor installed a defibrillator with pacing technology. My dizzy spells were finally under control. Since then I have been working hard to build strength so I can go back to work and have a normal productive life. My car .. 1996 Chevy Corsica is no longer road worthy. Now I have trouble making appointments to my Cardiologist, primary care Physician and physical therapy. This year i have missed 6 doctors appointments and had to stop all therapy. I also have trouble picking up medication on time so i got with out them sometimes up to a week. I didn't realize how important my car was until i couldn't use it. I get $1500/mo from Social Security. $96 of that goes toward medicare insurance premium. My rent is $500/mo. My medications are $400/mo and that is with prescription help. With out that help my meds are $1476. My utilities run $400/on average. The rest I spend on food, car insurance and medical bills. Other than socks and underwear I have not bought any clothes in 15 years ... nothing. I am asking for any help. Most important i need to get a car or fix my car which needs $2300 in repairs. Exhaust, brakes, bodywork and a windshield. If I have wheels I can finish getting back into shape and work to take care of everything else. If I get the help I need from here I PROMISE when I go back to work I will come back here and help people DOUBLE the amount of help I got. Unfortunately if I don't get help my health will go backwards. I will die within a year or two. I just starting gaining muscles back in my legs and arms I still have a long way to go. I need to get cardiac therapy to make my heart stronger. It isn't something I can do at home because I need to be monitored the whole time. Please help. Time is important I have already lost 5 months of therapy and my legs are getting weaker and i am getting weaker. I beg you. Please. But if prayers are all you can give I will appreciate that also. God Bless you all and your families.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read the dilemna. I am writing on behalf of my daughter and two small grandsons. The oil heating furnace has failed in her home, there are only two electric baseboards in a family room installed separately which are providing any heat. Quotes for replacing the system are from $7900 to $12000! We are trying to raise $7900 the cheapest replacement. Please find it in your heart to help us. We appreciate any help!

After being away since 1997, I've come back to care for my disabled mother. I myself have degenerative bone and disc disease of the spine. Making it impossible for me to do any of the labor. The building use to be a bar with an apartment upstairs. Due to her disabilities, she lives on the bar level. Years ago they had a porch added, which is partially cantilevered improperly. Someone installed a shower on the bar level, in the process, they cut a main beam rather than get a longer piece of pipe. I'm not able to find out when the unit was installed, but it was long enough ago that now the bar level bathrooms(yes, both mens and ladies rooms are still in there), and the apartment floors are all sloped. If memory serves me, lolly columns should stop/possibly reverse this.
The well is working when it wants to, the water runs, then shuts itself off, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes later, it comes back on. The furnace had a burned out blower part which I'm paying the bill off, leaving less than $75 cash after covering the expenses of this building each month. And the plumber said it would be close to $200 just to start fixing the well issue. Not even knowing if it is the pump or not.
The weather here is too much for my body without access to hot water therapy. I don't know how long it will be before I can no longer handle the pain in these temps. I am rather desperate for any help at all. I'm 46, single, and have no one to help me without paying hefty fee's. This building is in dire need of repairs. If anyone could please find it in their heart to help two women that have no one to lend a hand...PLEASE HELP?
Thank you for reading and have an outstanding day!

After being away since 1997, I've come back to care for my disabled mother. I myself have degenerative bone and disc disease of the spine. Making it impossible for me to do any of the labor. The building use to be a bar with an apartment upstairs. Due to her disabilities, she lives on the bar level. Years ago they had a porch added, which is partially cantilevered improperly. Someone installed a shower on the bar level, in the process, they cut a main beam rather than get a longer piece of pipe. I'm not able to find out when the unit was installed, but it was long enough ago that now the bar level bathrooms(yes, both mens and ladies rooms are still in there), and the apartment floors are all sloped. If memory serves me, lolly columns should stop/possibly reverse this.
The well is working when it wants to, the water runs, then shuts itself off, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes later, it comes back on. The furnace had a burned out blower part which I'm paying the bill off, leaving less than $75 cash after covering the expenses of this building each month. And the plumber said it would be close to $200 just to start fixing the well issue. Not even knowing if it is the pump or not.
The weather here is too much for my body without access to hot water therapy. I don't know how long it will be before I can no longer handle the pain in these temps. I am rather desperate for any help at all. I'm 46, single, and have no one to help me without paying hefty fee's. This building is in dire need of repairs. If anyone could please find it in their heart to help two women that have no one to lend a hand...PLEASE HELP?
Thank you for reading and have an outstanding day!

After being away since 1997, I've come back to care for my disabled mother. I myself have degenerative bone and disc disease of the spine. Making it impossible for me to do any of the labor. The building use to be a bar with an apartment upstairs. Due to her disabilities, she lives on the bar level. Years ago they had a porch added, which is partially cantilevered improperly. Someone installed a shower on the bar level, in the process, they cut a main beam rather than get a longer piece of pipe. I'm not able to find out when the unit was installed, but it was long enough ago that now the bar level bathrooms(yes, both mens and ladies rooms are still in there), and the apartment floors are all sloped. If memory serves me, lolly columns should stop/possibly reverse this.
The well is working when it wants to, the water runs, then shuts itself off, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes later, it comes back on. The furnace had a burned out blower part which I'm paying the bill off, leaving less than $75 cash after covering the expenses of this building each month. And the plumber said it would be close to $200 just to start fixing the well issue. Not even knowing if it is the pump or not.
The weather here is too much for my body without access to hot water therapy. I don't know how long it will be before I can no longer handle the pain in these temps. I am rather desperate for any help at all. I'm 46, single, and have no one to help me without paying hefty fee's. This building is in dire need of repairs. If anyone could please find it in their heart to help two women that have no one to lend a hand...PLEASE HELP?
Thank you for reading and have an outstanding day!

After being away since 1997, I've come back to care for my disabled mother. I myself have degenerative bone and disc disease of the spine. Making it impossible for me to do any of the labor. The building use to be a bar with an apartment upstairs. Due to her disabilities, she lives on the bar level. Years ago they had a porch added, which is partially cantilevered improperly. Someone installed a shower on the bar level, in the process, they cut a main beam rather than get a longer piece of pipe. I'm not able to find out when the unit was installed, but it was long enough ago that now the bar level bathrooms(yes, both mens and ladies rooms are still in there), and the apartment floors are all sloped. If memory serves me, lolly columns should stop/possibly reverse this.
The well is working when it wants to, the water runs, then shuts itself off, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes later, it comes back on. The furnace had a burned out blower part which I'm paying the bill off, leaving less than $75 cash after covering the expenses of this building each month. And the plumber said it would be close to $200 just to start fixing the well issue. Not even knowing if it is the pump or not.
The weather here is too much for my body without access to hot water therapy. I don't know how long it will be before I can no longer handle the pain in these temps. I am rather desperate for any help at all. I'm 46, single, and have no one to help me without paying hefty fee's. This building is in dire need of repairs. If anyone could please find it in their heart to help two women that have no one to lend a hand...PLEASE HELP?
Thank you for reading and have an outstanding day!

I have always help my family friends and strangers in need of a place to stay, food, ride, money clothes ect. Well due to a move, divorce from an abuser and surgery, I thought things were looking up when I got my career moving for a non profit senior resident center, then after a year offered a great position in management for a nursing home but this is a rural community and I did my job well. Due to the economic environment I was let go and my old job already replaced me. Im on unemployment. If I can move to a bigger city, like near los angeles (I have a free place to stay) then I will never be without a job. Currently I volunteer my time with hospice and driving seniors to their doctor appts and errands. My car is old but paid for I need auto repairs in the amount of 2,000; dental work 800; Relocation expenses to move to California 6000; and a job masters degree in healthcare in san fernado valley California I have a paypal account or you can send the money directly to the vendors in kind to me. My dad is a retired veteran from Vietnam era, he works for above minimum wage and I live with him currently. He gets his retirement too but he needs a new fence for his house, I helped with all thee renovations but being unemployed I can offer the labor but the materials are about $2500.00 or $4500 installed he would never ask for a handout but he also needs extensive dental work and replace his implants front teeth from 40 years ago from accident his smile means everything to me. With that said once im able to get back on my feet and return to work, I will be able to help others too! Thankyou for any assistance you can provide in these matters .

unemployed elderly mother, wanting to help 42yr old disabled son. difficulty helping him in bathing. need to remove old small tub and have a handicap shower installed.
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my pride won't help, but your caring to share will. mail Fm. Luke/ P.O.Box 9673/ Trenton, New Jersey 08650 USA

My wife and I both work full time, at minimum wage jobs. She's also a full time student, studying to become a veterinary technician. My 6 year old son is in the 1st grade. We recently moved to a mobile home in the country to cut our cost of living, and spent our savings fixing the trailer to make it livable. Winter came too quickly here in the midwest, and our furnace quit working. We received a quote for almost 300.00 to fix it, and I was told at that time that for 300.00 I could also get an energy efficient model installed new.

I'm not usually the type of person that asks for help, but we've been using our stove to stay warm at night in the 20 degree weather. We're afraid that our pipes are going to burst in this cold which would cost us even more.

We're living check to check and can barely keep afloat, even working full time. We make just a little too much to qualify for assistance like Food Stamps or medical card.

If anyone can help at all, even 5.00 will help put us closer to staying warm this winter. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

My wife and I both work full time, at minimum wage jobs. She's also a full time student, studying to become a veterinary technician. My 6 year old son is in the 1st grade. We recently moved to a mobile home in the country to cut our cost of living, and spent our savings fixing the trailer to make it livable. Winter came too quickly here in the midwest, and our furnace quit working. We received a quote for almost 300.00 to fix it, and I was told at that time that for 300.00 I could also get an energy efficient model installed new.

I'm not usually the type of person that asks for help, but we've been using our stove to stay warm at night in the 20 degree weather. We're afraid that our pipes are going to burst in this cold which would cost us even more.

We're living check to check and can barely keep afloat, even working full time. We make just a little too much to qualify for assistance like Food Stamps or medical card.

If anyone can help at all, even 5.00 will help put us closer to staying warm this winter. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.

My Wife and I are both disabled Americans. She has had a major back fusion and two knee replacements as well as some heart woes. I myself have just had my second major back surgery, I have an implantable Cardiac Defibrilator and one total knee replacement.
We are both on a very low income, myself on Social Security Disabilaty, she on School Employees Retirement Disabilaty benefits. We have a vehicle that is almost twenty years old and on its last legs.. I am certain you get many letters like this everyday but we really would like some kind of assistance. We would love to be able to move to Vermont where we can be near our children and Grandchildren as they grow and flourish into strong Americans ans be near our Parents as they live out thier golden years. I know we are asking a lot but if there is anything you can do to truly show your compassion , we will speak on every t.v. station, every radio station, make posters, whatever it takes. To show our thanks and support. We're begging you.
The state of Ohio in its infinite wisdom is considering stopping paying my Medicare part b and take away my medicaid because we, "make too much gross income" by the time we pay all our bills we have maybe 50.00 left to last an entire month.
My Wifes Information::::
I was Married to a very wonderful man for 31 years. He developed heart disease and diabetes. He fought valiently but finaly succomed to the medical problems. I became very sad and was almost at the brink of a mental breakdown. I did become involved with the local Greif Counseling service as this helped me to ease my burden a small amount. I began talking to this nice fellow on Pogo.com which is an online gaming site where one may play all sorts of games such as Solitare etc. We hit it off and began internet dating in August of 2008. We arranged to meet in November and upon viewing each other we knew the bond we had felt over the air was a real bond and Leo dropped to his knees and askeed me to Marry him. We married a week later in November of 2008 and have been together ever since. Since than we have both become quite medically burdened ourselves, Leo has a thing called Sudden Cardiac death Syndrome and has had to have had an Automatic Implantable Cardiac Defibrilator instaled recently. We both suffer from back woes and must seek care frequently. Now we do have a 1996 Chevy Blazer that runs when it feels like it, the airconditioner is broken and what with being in the Midwest is very hot to have to drive around with the windows down. A computer part that costs 1500.00 for the A.B.S. system is out and we just can not afford to fix it. We love the vehicle as it was my first ever fully owned vehicle from a bank loan in my life. If We appreciate everything we have and are greatful for both this site and for all the kindness of others. Please vote for us and we shall make certain to pay it forward with our own kindness and see to it that others are blessed as we are. Thank you for reading and for helping out anyway you can.
My Information::::
My Wife and I will be Married for three years on November 28th.We met in late July or early August of 2008. She had just lost her husband of 31 years. I was myself looking for a somewhat different lifestyle than I was in currently. I was living at home at over 40, disabled with a moderate spinal disease and more or less going nowhere. Debbie and I hit it off right away and we were engaged in October and Married in November. We each have been each others rock and best friend and companion. I have since went into the Ministry and have undertaken many courses towards helping others to live as good a life as possible. Debbie is a great personal loss counselor in her own right. I recently became a heart patient and have had to have an Automatic Implantable cardiac defibrilator installed in my upper chest which has a built in pace maker. All this at only the age of 49.Debbie has had to have undergone major back surgery herself and have screws and cages ut into her lower back. This makes us totaly disabled yet we both have a teriffic outlook on life and are always willing to help others. Life is what you make it, not a series of bad events that bring you down. We both appreciate each day given unto us and are so greatful for all our friends, family, and fellow searchers of lifes Grace. If we were chosen to receive a New SUV as we live in snowy Ohio and may move to new England to be closer to some family we would make certain that it was put to good use and everyone would know the generosity of others. I can only hope as this as well as the other stories here on this site may touch you a small amount and you shall favor us with kindness. God Bless Everyone. Thank You All. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and supporters here. We appreciate everything people are doing and sending all the wonderful messages. God Bless You all.





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Hi, my name is sam and recently our sink and dishwasher started leaking. The leak had gone un-noticed for so long that it is rotting the wood underneath the sing and dish washer. I am just hoping to get enough money together to buy a new sink and maybe possible a new dishwasher that i could get professionally installed. Thank you

It all started 5 years ago on June 17, 2006. . .a day I will remember for the rest of my life. It was the day before Fathers Day and we were driving with our 14 month old son to his grandmothers house when and SUV ran a stop sign slamming into us causing our vehicle to roll landing upside down. They say my fiance (my sons father) was partially ejected and killed instantly.

He didn't have life insurance, and since we were only engaged, there were no survivors benefits and so it was just me, my 14 month old, two dogs, and an old house built in 1927 and a laundry list of repairs that needed to be done.

After my fiance died, I think a part of me just shut down. There was so much to deal with. . .working full time, being a single parent with no support. All my family lives 6 hours away, and my fiances family never wanted anything to do with us and after the accident all communication stopped and I was alone.

So, I shut the doors to the upstairs of our two bedroom Cape Cod, and made my bed on the Living Room couch so that I could rock my son in his bouncy chair everytime he woke at night. . .on average 4 times a night.

I did the best I could over the years. During all this my Dad was a huge emotional support for me. We talked every day, he encouraged me to stay strong and I did the same for him (he was diagnosed with milodisplastic syndrome in 2005)his blood transfusions really took a toll on him and his physical weakness really depressed him. I know he worried about me alot because I would always call him for advise on how to fix things or ask him questions about car stuff. He was my rock and he died October 4, 2008 from complications with pneumonia. He was buried on his birthday October 8 when he would have been 56.

His death is still hard to handle. My rock my best friend and advisor was gone and now I realized I was truly alone. Not only did I not have anyone to help me with my son, or with the house or the car, but now I didn't have anyone I could really talk to that could just listen and be my guide.

All this happened so suddenly. My now 3 year old son and I stayed up North for a week after my Fathers death. There was a lot of planning and funeral arrangements to be made that during the midst of all this, 6 hours away in my little Cape Cod were the two dogs. . .Joe, a shepard and chow mix, and Rex, a shepard and Rotti mix left to their own devices. All I could do was pray that the damage wouldn't be too terrible.

I tried calling a neighbor to check on the dogs, but in our unexplained absence the dogs became extremely protective of the house and wouldn't let anyone it.

When we finally came home, there was definately a mess. I had to rip up all the carpet by myself the stench was horrible and the dust and dirt under the padding from 10 year old carpet caused more than one sinus infection. After a month I had all the carpet ripped up and have not been able to replace it.

After working and saving and with help from my Mom, in 2009 I was able to hire a Contractor that had been highly recommended to me by a friend of mine. He raved about how great they were and what a good job they did for him. We had a contract for about $19,000. This was to replace all the windows, replace the kitchen cabinets, new countertop, appliances, paint, everything the house needed after being neglected for over 10 years. So they came and painted and left. Six months later they came back with 5 of the 13 windows, installed the windows, but left the casements on the inside open and torn leaving exposed the Lead Paint and the original wood framing. Then in August 2009, they had the kitchen cabinets delivered to my house and they were stored outside on the porch. I called and called to find out when they would be put in, and no response. They stayed outside through the Fall and through the winter when we got three feet of snow and I called and begged and sent text messages and one day their phone number was disconnected. Then in June 2010 they called me!! They would come install the cabinets. So they came and tore out the stove and the kitchen sink and installed the cabinets and put a slab on granite down so I could have a work area and said they would be back with the stove and dishwasher and sink. They never came back. So I had kitchen cabinets and no stove, no sink, no dishwasher. Then in July, Rex, the Rotti Shepard mix got really sick. The vet said he was starting kidney failure. They kept him and did IV treatment and got his kidneys functioning and they said he need a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice. I had no stove. I tried calling the contractors I yelled, I begged, I sent text messages and finally out of desparation I went and bought the cheapest stove I could just to be able to boil water for my dog.

The dog survived, but his survival was short lived. In October 2010 on the anniversary of my Fathers death, I had to put the dog to sleep. He was suffering from the samething my father had. He couldn't produce red blood cells anymore and would have to live off of blood transfusions. One of the hardest choices I've ever made.

Now here we are in 2011. Memorial Day I almost lost my now 6 year old son in a near drowning incident at a friends pool. Thank God the husband knew CPR and was able to revive him. He stayed overnight in ICU for monitoring but he is now a happy healthy 1st grader.

Me. . .I'm barely keeping it together. I can't afford to take care of my home. The carpet was never replaced and there is a horrible draft in the Winter and the Lead Paint is still exposed. The upstairs windows are leaking and there are water spots on the ceiling. There is a 4" crack in the basement foundation wall that goes all the way down the wall and across the basement floor to the other side of the house. I was told that the footing is slipping and that it was only a matter of time before the house caved. The gutters are falling off the house from age and the deck rails are falling off. I fear for our safety, but mostly, I'm afraid for my son. I want to give him a safe and healthy environment, but I need help.

Please, if there is anyone out there that can help us, I would be eternally grateful. In the meantime, I will keep praying and belive that everything happens for a reason.

Hi. I cant believe I;m begging online. I expect no response to this, but view it as a place to vent. Good things just haven't happened to me for a long time. Here I go anyway... I am writing because I am in desperate need for help. I am a 35 year old single dad with a 9 year old daughter. Let me begin by explaining my situation. My former employer, in the building supply industry, went out of business a few years ago. The economy has not rebounded making building industry jobs scarce. I have since then put myself through schooling to become an emergency medical technician as I stand a chance at getting hired by my local fire department if the economy improves. I am aiming for a career change to get back into the work force. I had to change careers for economic as well as health reasons. Shortly after my company went out of business, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a debilitating disease affecting the digestive tract. The disease caused me to lose 75 lbs (30% of my body mass) in 8 months. I have been proactive in drastically changing my diet and getting the proper medical care and medicine (Thank God for Medicaid).
Even with medical care, I am still sick every day but I am making the disease more manageable. I applied for disability and received a response back that my condition is indeed disabling, preventing me from working, but would resolve in a year. Hopefully it does, but it is classified as an incurable disease that leads to repeated surgeries in 75% of the patients diagnosed with the disease. On the flip side of that statistic is a growing hope that alternative therapies may work… but take time to custom tailor to the individual. They are also expensive and not covered by Medicaid or private sector insurance. I have spoken to a disability attorney who is ready to represent me if necessary. I am only seeking disability as my “Plan B” if all else fails. I want to become a productive member of society again. I do have a “Plan A”, but I have a LOT of obstacles ahead of me.
This has all had a devastating effect on my finances. Last summer my gas was turned off the day after my daughter’s heart surgery. The gas was turned back on based on medical necessity. As of this week, my gas is turned off again and LIHEAP cannot assist me. I can’t seem to ever have the “Timing” right to get assistance. My electric is also on the verge of being shut off. My home is in foreclosure but the bank has agreed to work with me if I can find employment fast. I have just received a job offer that I graciously accepted. I start in a week. Just before receiving the job offer, while biking with my daughter, I had a mini stroke which caused me to go unconscious while riding. I crashed, broke my ribs, clavicle, hurt my spine, bruised my brain and lung, received several stitches, etc.. I pray that my health stabilizes to allow me to work. My daughter lives with me in this house. I would like to save it from foreclosure mainly for her sake. It’s where she has grown up. It’s a few blocks from her school where I want to keep her. My adopted 9 year old daughter, who I love a lot, has a very difficult speech impediment and learning disability. She already has special education and speech therapy in place with professionals that have worked with her for many years and know her needs. It would be very difficult to have to move away and have to make her start over in another school. I love my daughter a lot and will do anything to provide for her a life that she deserves… with my own limited resources. I say all that to illustrate “in short” that I need help. I have asked relatives and friends for help throughout the year and they are “Tapped”. My church is also in the same situation. I have sold most of my possessions to afford my phone bill, auto insurance, and auto fuel. My daughter and I currently have Medicaid and SNAP food assistance.
My goals are to:
1) I need to rebuild my professional wardrobe. I have lost a lot of weight and consequently have been working on buying dress clothes for my new job. I am to wear solid black suits. I am a 44L with a 38” Waist and 34” Inseam. Size 14 Black oxford shoes. I will graciously accept presentable used items. I can buy 3 inexpensive nice black suits for $80 each. $50 for shoes.
2) I have to keep going to my doctors and maintain and improve my health. I have just been referred off for advanced level care. The travel expenses are going to be very high. I will have to stay overnight in a hotel somehow for some procedures.
3) I will have to afford to drive to work. I will have to keep myself insured and afford the initial cash outset for my first 2-3 weeks of work. I am traveling far to work and it will cost me about $125 a week in fuel. $60/ month in insurance.
4) I have to get my gas turned back on. I am looking at having to come up with an impossible $5000 to get it turned back on.
5) I just bought and installed an used electric water heater and dryer. I have no way as of yet to heat my house this winter.
6) I have to catch up on my $1500 electric bill. Hopefully I can do so or I will have to abandon my house and give up hope. I may have to move to a different state with different utility companies.
7) If I can accomplish the above goals in a short amount of time, I stand a very strong chance at getting my mortgage modified and staying in my home. I can then only have to worry about the basics of life in addition to my health and my daughter’s heart and special needs.
I am facing some tough challenges. I cannot do it on my own. I have nowhere to turn. I would appreciate any assistance or advice on where to go for assistance.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I appreciate your help.

im sorry to have to ask but im in the middle of a divorce, custody battle soon to come and to top it off i lost a leg 2 years ago to diabetes and i am a 1 year cancer survivor.
my wife is an alcholic and the reason she wants a divorce is because im disabled. she says she dont want the kids to see a loser daddy in a wheelchair. real men work and provide for their families. with the seperation i no longer can afford the payments on my pickup which had a wheelchair lift installed in the back. if my pickup was paid off i could live ok on my disability. would be tight but i could manage. i go to the mayo clinic in rochester mn about 100 miles away for doctoring, therfore the transportation is greatly needed. i owe about 15,000 on the pickup. the lift was installed by human services. can someone please help?

im sorry to have to ask but im in the middle of a divorce, custody battle soon to come and to top it off i lost a leg 2 years ago to diabetes and i am a 1 year cancer survivor.
my wife is an alcholic and the reason she wants a divorce is because im disabled. she says she dont want the kids to see a loser daddy in a wheelchair. real men work and provide for their families. with the seperation i no longer can afford the payments on my pickup which had a wheelchair lift installed in the back. if my pickup was paid off i could live ok on my disability. would be tight but i could manage. i go to the mayo clinic in rochester mn about 100 miles away for doctoring, therfore the transportation is greatly needed. i owe about 15,000 on the pickup. the lift was installed by human services. can someone please help?

I'm a 24 year old female currently living in a friend's dorm room. His lease ends in May, and that will be the day I become homeless. I've put in job applications everywhere and nobody's gotten back to me, and I still have a single bill that I've yet to pay off... the time is ticking, and I couldn't think of anything else to do.

I'm pretty sure nobody reads these things, but this is my last shot at doing something for myself and getting out of the rut that will inevitably leave me homeless in one month. Here's a story that shows just how terrible gaming addictions can become and how much harder it is to dig yourself out of a hole that only deepens by the day with no hope of escape.

In 2007, I began playing World of Warcraft on my crappy laptop (which at the time had been a great piece of machinery). It started out innocently enough. I had real life friends who played the game and I'd wanted to know what it was all about so I bought and installed it. I was instantly hooked in the world, and made some friends that I talk with even to this day. I went through several guilds before I finally found the one I thought I would enjoy. I began spending endless amounts of time in the game, engrossing myself in it. I quit all of my outside activities and all of my hobbies revolved around getting in the game and playing it until the wee hours of the morning. I would come to work sleepy and dislike everyone around me. After the first two years I fell into an odd depression that could only be quelled by, what I thought, was WoW. By the time 2010 rolled around I had been living in four different places IRL, bumming from one place to the other in order to have more game time. I hadn't had a job, I hadn't even looked for one.

Eventually, in September of 2010, I'd had enough. While I want to blame the game for everything wrong I've done in my life, I can only blame myself for letting it get so bad. I could have shut it off at any time, but I didn't. I could have listened to everyone who told me what I was turning into, but I hadn't. My parents had driven from Illinois to Cleveland, Ohio to bring me back home. It was the opening for a new beginning that I thought would get me back on the path of redemption... but it was only the start of a larger nightmare. Between an internet addiction and an unquenchable withdraw from a lack of a game I could no longer play for fear of losing the roof over my head, I managed to find a job at a local gas station.. but that wasn't enough for my parents. They held my misgivings over my head constantly and for every one thing I did right, twenty things were wrong. After I forgot to do the dishes for the fourth time that month, my internet connection had been taken away.

Instead of taking this as a queue to get away and start my life anew, I fell deeper into depression. Withdraw took over and I used the library computers for an hour or two a day before I went to work to keep in touch with the friends I'd been cut off from. Eventually I'd put enough money together to get my own internet connection and had told my father that the Comcast guys were going to come over to install it. He'd been fine with it though knew my mother would throw a fit. A week later, the internet guys installed my box and left. The internet worked for an hour then shot out. When I told my father that the guys had to come back to re-install whatever they had forgotten to do, he'd thrown a fit about people "drilling holes in his wall, and walking into HIS home", and refused to acknowledge that I'd ever had the conversation with him in the first place. This sent me into a panic attack that ended in a night of hospitalization.

While I was in the hospital I had told the doctor while in tears that I didn't wish to see my parents while I was being treated because they were the reason I was in the situation I was in. While they had not physically harmed me, I was in no mental state to deal with their accusations anymore (which my father had yelled and argued with me the entire way to the hospital already). When they'd finally discharged me, I had found out that I had been abandoned at the hospital with no way home; I'd called a good friend to take me home.

The next day, I was told via text that I was no longer welcome in my parents' home.

While trying with everything I could not to lose my mind for a second time, I made as many phone calls as I could. Nobody could help me. Finally, my sister had offered me a place to stay in her friends' dorm room for a day or two just to make sure that I wasn't left on the street. As if by an act of God, an old friend from high school came into my life and offered me a place at his dorm room until I was able to get back on my feet. I now live two hours away from where "home" used to be, and am typing from my computer here. I had to leave the only stable job I'd had in 2 years to come here and getting back on my feet is proving harder than I could've ever imagined. I've had job interviews with no luck and I don't have enough money to put a down payment on an apartment in the area. If I don't find a solution by May 1st, I -will- be homeless.

I wish I could blame everything I've done on my gaming, and the internet, but as said before, it was my own stupidity that has landed me in this situation. Mental addictions are harder to break than physical ones and even now, 6 months after quitting World of Warcraft, every part of me still wants to go back to it, to get back the comfort of living in another world that it used to give me. The only thing that seems to break the feeling and keep it down is a cigarette; cheapest pack available, mind you. The point I'm trying to make is that gaming addictions can be dangerous, all consuming, and deadly. Someday I may write a paper on all the effects of letting yourself succumb to the beautiful world of anonymity and pixels... but here isn't the place to do that.

This is my last ditch effort to get out of the hole I've dug myself into. Today I offer you my heart and soul, and everything I have left that (Thank God) hasn't disintegrated along with everything else I used to be good at.

Thanks for reading. Hope you guys have a fantastic rest of your week.

I am hoping to have solar power installed on my house so I can stop my dependence on foreign oil and big business. The cost for this is $35,000. If you could donate $1.00 or more to help me attain my goal I would be appreciative. Thank you. My paypal account is penncollegegrad@comcast.net

My dog was picked up for biting someone who was on our property uninvited. He was chained, with no way to harm anyone unless they came close to him. He barks to warn us when someone is on our property, and also to warn the intruder to leave. For some unknown reason, the person continued to walk toward him, and got nipped on the hand. Unfortunately, it was enough to break the skin.

Now, I'm told that I can't get him back unless I have a 6-ft. fence put up around our property. We already have one about 4-ft., but the hurricane messed up some of it and busted in our gate. Now it's gonna cost about $3000 to have an 8-ft. fence installed. Meanwhile, my dog is staying at the pound, and I'm getting sicker and sicker as each day passes that something will happen to him.

I would be very grateful for any donation amount that brings me closer to the $3000. Thank you in advance.