Back in March 2023, I came home from work to a gut punch I never saw coming. My wife of five years—my partner for nearly fifteen years—was gone. She left our marriage, leaving me and our two beautiful daughters behind. Those girls, they’re my everything, but that moment marked the start of a brutal journey that’s tested every ounce of my strength. The divorce wasn’t just a heartbreak; it was a financial and emotional earthquake. Legal fees piled up fast, draining savings I’d worked years to build. The worst part? The relentless custody battles over our daughters. My ex-wife has put us through a magnitude of issues, dragging us into court time and again to challenge custody. She’s made it her mission to disrupt our lives, and each fight has chipped away at me. Most recently, she kept my girls from me for twenty-five days—over Father’s Day, no less—because of her own personal reasons. Those days without them were agony, like part of my soul was missing. But I fought back in court, pouring everything I had into it, and won. My daughters are now on a stable custody schedule, and that victory is my lifeline. They’re safe with me, and I’ll never stop fighting to keep it that way. But the cost of these battles has been devastating. I’ve lost so much—my savings, my stability, and parts of myself I’m still trying to find. I’ve poured every penny and every bit of energy into giving my daughters a home filled with love. We’ve lived in our rental for over five years, a place where my girls have grown, laughed, and built memories. It’s not just a house; it’s our sanctuary. But now, even that’s at risk. Last month, I was fifteen days late on rent, scrambling to keep the lights on. My electric bill is on the verge of being shut off again. It feels like I’ve climbed a mountain, clawed my way to the top, only to get knocked back down just as I’m about to reach solid ground. There’s no one here to catch me, and I’m running out of strength to keep fighting alone. I’m trying so hard to stay positive, but I know that God has a plan and I do trust in that. At the end of the day, I’m simply just a devoted father, who’s given everything to protect my girls.
I’m not asking for a handout—I’m asking for a hand up. Any support you can offer will help us keep our home, keep the lights on, and give my girls the stability they deserve. This is our safe place, their safe place, please help me keep this for them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for listening and for any help you can give. May god bless you!
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PayPal.me Account: @NicholasDowner
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