My spiraling started right after my divorce was finalized. Almost immediately, I lost my job and had to scramble for a new one just to start paying child support. I was shocked when they began taking 65% of my paycheck—turns out Michigan law allows up to 50-60% of disposable income for support orders depending on circumstances, and it hit me hard. I fought to keep working, but the high garnishment left me with almost nothing some weeks—sometimes $20, sometimes $0 after they double-dipped on arrears. I lost my apartment and my car because I couldn’t keep up. I became homeless in effect, relying on family to survive.
Thank God for family who let me stay with them and borrow a car—it kept my expenses low while I kept working no matter what. I refused to be labeled a “deadbeat dad.” I paid every bit I could, even when it meant barely eating or surviving paycheck to paycheck.
When my kids turned 18, I thought the nightmare was over—no more child support, I’d finally keep what I earned and rebuild. But then I was wrongfully let go from my job. Someone less qualified was put in my position simply because they wanted it, and I was pushed out. It felt like a deep betrayal after years of loyalty and hard work. I couldn’t let it go—I filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination/discrimination. Now others from the same company are coming forward with similar stories of unfair treatment, so maybe this could help more people, but I’m the one paying the price.
The lawsuit is ongoing, but legal fees are piling up fast. At the same time, my current part-time job (barely 30 hours a week) barely covers rent and lights—I’m always behind, scraping by month to month. My car is literally falling apart; I need it fixed to reliably get to work and not lose this job too.
I’ve been through eviction threats, zero-dollar paychecks, job loss after job loss, but my faith has kept me going. I thank God every day for not letting me give up. All I want—for once—is to get ahead: pay off these mounting legal fees so I can focus on the case without drowning in worry, catch up on bills, fix my car, and have a small buffer in the bank so I’m not one bad month from disaster.
I’m asking for help to reach $10,000 (or more if possible). This would cover:
- Legal fees to keep fighting the wrongful termination case.
- Getting current on rent and utilities.
- Car repairs for dependable transportation to work.
I’m not asking to “fix my life” overnight—just a real chance to stand on my own again after years of setbacks. To all the good dads out there who’ve paid support faithfully, lost everything, and kept fighting: I see you, and I don’t want to give up either. If someone could just say, “I got you,” it would mean the world.
If you can donate any amount, it will help more than you know. I’ll keep this updated with progress on the lawsuit and how donations are used. Thank you from the bottom of my heart—may God bless you abundantly for any help you give.
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mulondoechols