Hi my name is Jacob. Pictured is my son Jarrus. I’m 26 years old and have went through quite a lot in my life. When I turned 18 I left my town to go live in Texas with some family members. After that I did nothing but travel because I loved to just up and move even if I had nothing to show for it. I always knew it would give me a good mindset. I’ve lived in some amazing places. Well three and half a years ago I was leaving my girlfriend of about 7 years (Who I had two miscarriages with) and heading to live in California. I stayed in California for about a month and a half before I got the call saying she was pregnant again. I up and left to go back with her and move across the country so we could be with our families again and raise our child. When my son was six months old our relationship wasn’t good anymore and we split. Things were very rocky at the beginning, but I still seen my son everyday for the first two years of his life. Well she fooled me by having me sign papers saying I would get him way less but she would only use it if we couldn’t get along. After his second birthday that we shared with him she used the custody papers which only allowed me to see my son the first three weekends of the month. It’s been like this for over a year and a half now. It’s been the hardest time of my entire life but through it I’ve learned to be stronger than I ever have been. And definitely more patient. I’m at a point where I realize I’ve had great and amazing experiences in life, but I’ve got nothing to show for it. Except for debt. Also about five years ago I found out some fractures in my back led to me having multiple broken bones in my back. I had to have surgery with two rods and two hooks to repair my back. I had a bilateral pars defect with spondylolisthesis. At one point my quality of life was so low I almost would have rather died than to endure any more pain. This made my work life situation very difficult. I have about 20k in debt. A lot of hospital bills and two vehicle repossessions. I’m a single father. I work a full time job and have full coverage insurance on my son even though right now I only see him three times a month. I’d pay for it if I didn’t see him at all but it’s the worst thing knowing I can’t get him a single day besides the appointed days. She won’t even let me take him to the park. We have trial in a month and hopefully I will be getting more time with him. I have been fighting so hard. Lawyers cost thousands of dollars so I have loans that I can barely afford to pay. I pay rent and all utilities for my son and I to have our own house. It feels like I will never ever get caught up considering I only make about 35k a year and barely have 20$ by the time I’m done paying for everything I need just to go to work again. On top of all of this sometimes I just feel like this can’t be real. Life is so mysterious to me. If we’re all going to die then why does this life have to be so hard? Shouldn’t we all be able to enjoy the short lives we have? Sometimes I wish I could live outside and never have to see money again. But in this day and age unfortunately I feel money is the only thing that will allow anyone to live even a decent life. I ask.. what is life? I have no idea but I know I’m here. I know in my heart I want to be able to provide and do what’s best for me and my son in this short life. 