My story, well it may sound like it’s from some Netflix drama. Unfortunately, it’s real life for me and my boys. My name is Erica. I have three beautiful boys Francis, Ethan, and Anthony. Our adventure began in 2018. We timidly packed our bags to move across country to Denver Colorado. We left to chase the dreams of my loving partner at the time. He was offered a position in building the New Gaylord resort in Denver. So many new endeavors, people, places, experiences to give my boys. I come from a poor family, and I never left more than a few hundred miles from my home. I thought this was it, this was that chance to get out of here and show them it’s not all the same and you don’t have to live the life I did. I thought in my heart it would be the break we needed to get out of the viscous cycle. So, we got to our new home, and it definitely felt too good to be true. It felt clean and beautiful and happy. We had a pool and gym that we use daily, and it felt like a dream. I got a position in a group home for disabled adults. The kids were hopeful starting in schools with way more advanced technology and a curriculum that set my sons mind on fire. He was thriving, until one day it all came crashing down. My nightmares quickly took over. I contracted one of the first documented cases of covid. I was told it was some Super bug and I almost met my end. It was thanksgiving 2019 and my mother had flown out to visit. She found me blue in my bed surrounded by my boys who were terrified. I was taken to the hospital where I spent a few weeks in treatment. Arriving home things were not right. The boys were sad, house a mess and my so-called life partner was nowhere to be found. He began acting very strange. He was angry all the time. Suddenly any money we had in savings was gone and there was late bills and termination notices. This was not like him, and I was only gone a few weeks. I thought it was the result of my absence. Long story I know, however I want you to get the full picture of what we have been through. There is no way on earth to explain. I would have to write a book. (Working on that). To my utter disbelief. He was using drugs!!?? He became abusive and insane, breaking things, selling our belongings. One night I confronted him angry, as I had no clue what to do next. He refused treatment and so it left me no choice. I had him arrested. That night he hit me for the first time and in the matter of minutes our entire home was literally smashed into pieces as well as our hearts. The next day I packed my boys two suitcases each opened a credit card and got on a plane! I had left it all to save them from this disaster. After months of trying to get him help. We were drowning and he was not the man I fell in love with and made a family with. It was a total cost of 18,000.00 in back rent and damages that I ended up paying in order to maintain the little credit I had left. I lost my car as well. By the time I knew my automatic payments had been shutoff and he was taking the money, it was just too late, and they came and took it while I was asleep one night. He even sold our family dog, and the boys absolutely lost all trust for him. Their hearts broke when we realized what had happened. He even tried to make it seem like he ran away. But later we met the wonderful couple who did in fact buy our dog.
Today he is in and out of jail and truly gone. I came home to my mother’s, but we are not able to stay. She rents her small two-bedroom home, and her landlord allowed us to come out of desperation. Last month they came and told us we must go by end of August. I am physically disabled, we lost absolutely everything. Accounts all negative and closed, my car was repossessed. We are all in treatment from the trauma we went through. My oldest son Ethan is having a hard time coping. he has attempted to leave this earth twice. He says it’s that we have no hope, and it hurts too much. The man we loved sold our family dog to feed his addiction. He came back to follow us as well. He thinks we are still family. But he sits in jail most of the time. No child support ever comes. In fact, when he is released, the state will pay for him to have a home for one whole year and they will support him, as he needs to make a new life. Meanwhile I work my tooshie off and I can’t get that sort of support. He is a danger to me and my children. He snaps off in a second if I say the wrong thing. So how is it that he can assault a police officer and abuse his family, lie cheat and steal? And me I need help and I get offered a possible night in a shelter or hotel voucher. I am grateful for any help I don’t want to come off as I am not. I struggle working, trying to continue my education while supporting my boys. I do the best I can. Starting over from scratch has proved a difficult task. On top of all this madness my hip and both knees need to be replaced, but I can’t take the time to get these procedures done. When I was 26 years old, I was caught in a flash flood and lost control of my car. I hit a tree head on. I shattered the left side of my body, so I spent many years in recovery. I just want to be able to take care of my children. I have many goals and ideas. I am inspired to help others that may have experienced some of the trauma that I have. But I can’t help anyone else until I am stable. I am so hesitant to do this. I can’t imagine a world where I could raise enough money to buy a car and get me and the boys in a clean safe home with good schools and community. I am currently applying to become a CPS Certified Peer Support Specialist Aswell as studying to practice reiki which is energy healing. I would like to also obtain an acupuncture license and open my very own family wellness center. These are my goals and dreams. I just need to find a way to get this all-in motion. I am hoping to raise enough to get a home and vehicle that’s safe and in good condition. I hope to raise $35,000.00. I feel a huge lump in my throat and butterflies in my tummy. My eyes are sore from sobbing as I write this all out for anyone to read. I am a loving dedicated mother. My boys are good boys. We, they especially deserve a good start to life. In one year the oldest of the three will begin thinking about college and I can’t allow what happened to me to happen to them. I hope there is a fighting chance that this will find the right someone. I know it all sounds crazy, to the person /people who find my story please be easy on me. I did what I thought was best and got the hell away from the toxic ABUSE. I live in a small town with little work. No public transportation and no car for me to use. My physical condition prevents me from walking long distances or riding a bike. I am a smart capable woman and the money raised will go to a good cause as well as change the lives of three wonderful boys. Thank you to whoever takes the time to read this. Your prayers, donations and time is greatly appreciated. I am absolutely honored to have this opportunity tell my story and have a chance to make this life work. paypal.me/Ericahopp