Two years ago, I packed my hopes and belongings alongside my husband, seeking solace in a place where the sun shines every day and palm trees sway with promises of peace. But instead, I found storms that shattered my dreams. My husband and I moved to Florida in July of 2022; we’re both in our 60s, hoping for a slower, more restful pace of life. My husband had undergone a quadruple heart bypass during COVID in 2019, only to be diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after. I knew we needed a major lifestyle change, so we moved to Florida, seeking the tranquility we felt we deserved.
We purchased a small home, but two months later, on September 27, 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed it. The relaxation we had craved turned into a life filled with relentless emotional and physical labor beyond anything I could have imagined. We tried to rebuild our home with the little money we had, but then, on October 9, 2024, disaster struck again, and our home was once more destroyed and flooded by Hurricane Milton.
We are emotionally drained and desperately seeking help from anyone kind enough to assist us with donations to rebuild. I carry over $60,000 in student loans, and I’m uncertain how I’ll repay them. Our dreams of tranquility and fresh beginnings have been swept away in the depths of hurricane waters.
Hurricane Ian descended like a dark shadow, turning our sanctuary into a waterlogged shell. Twenty-six inches of floodwater surged through my home, swallowing cherished memories and reducing our refuge to ruins. Just as I began to gather the strength to rebuild, Hurricane Milton came crashing through, subjecting our fragile existence to yet another deluge. Each storm eroded not only our home but the very fabric of my spirit.
Now, my husband and I find ourselves living in a hotel, transient souls adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The walls that once held our laughter now echo with loss, and each night, I lay my head in a place that feels like a shelter, not a home. I’ve moved several times in the last few months, seeking stability but finding only the relentless pull of change and despair.
The repairs to my home are beyond my reach, a daunting reminder of the life I once envisioned. Without full-time work, my financial resources dwindle, leaving me in a cycle of worry and fatigue. The burden weighs heavily on my heart; it strains my soul, pulling me into shadows I never anticipated facing.
I share this not for pity but in hope—hope that there are kind hearts willing to help me rise from this tumultuous sea. Any support you could offer would be a lifeline, a way to stitch my life back together. I long for the day when I can reclaim my space, breathe in the ocean air without fear, and find joy in the gentle rhythms of life once more.
In this moment of need, I reach out into the unknown, grateful for any kindness that can light my way. Your generosity would mean more than words can express, helping to mend not just my home, but my spirit as well. Thank you for considering my plight. paypal.me/CSchulheis40
paypal.me/CSchulheis40