“A Second Chance at Independence: Help Me Get Back on the Road”
Hello, my name is Cherol, and today I am reaching out to you with a humble plea for assistance. I find myself in a situation I never thought I would be in, and for the first time, I am asking for help. I am starting this GoFundMe campaign because I am in desperate need of a car, which has become an essential necessity in my life.
Twenty-two years ago, I purchased a car that has faithfully served me through life’s ups and downs. Recently, I took it to a mechanic to address some brake issues, only to receive devastating news. The repairs needed would cost a substantial amount, and even if fixed, the entire underbody of my car is severely rusted, making it unsafe to drive. It pains me to admit that my beloved car has reached the end of its journey.
To truly understand why this situation has left me in such a desperate position, I feel it is important to share some fragments of my life story. In 1985, our world was shattered when my paranoid schizophrenic brother tragically took the life of our father. Although we found it in our hearts to forgive him, our lives were forever altered. Navigating the broken mental healthcare system became our new reality. Despite being a promising individual who worked his way through college, my brother’s severe mental illness prevented him from utilizing his degree. He was found guilty of manslaughter and spent significant time in state mental institutions. This ordeal placed an immense financial burden on my mother, who exhausted $14,000 on attorney fees, only to be let down by an inadequate defense.
The turmoil continued as my brother persistently trespassed into our lives, causing us to abandon our family home. We sought refuge in hotels, unfurnished apartments, and furnished apartments as we desperately tried to escape his unpredictable and dangerous presence. Throughout the years, he would disappear for extended periods, leaving us anxious and searching for him. Tragically, one day we received a call from Metro Health Hospital, informing us that he had been struck by a hit-and-run driver. The accident left him with permanent physical injuries, including the loss of an eye, and inflicted indescribable emotional pain upon my mother and our entire family.
As if fate had not dealt enough blows, my own health took a turn for the worse. Due to the failure of University Hospital of Cleveland to meet the standard of care, I experienced respiratory failure and was placed in a coma on life support. Miraculously, I survived but faced a grueling journey of nine surgeries, including hip replacements, parathyroid gland removals, glaucoma eye surgery, breast surgery, and fallopian tube removal. Suffice it to say, I lost my job along the way. Just as I was beginning to regain my strength, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to three additional major surgeries, including two knee replacements and abdominal hernia repairs. These surgeries occurred during the pandemic, further compounding the challenges I faced.
Amidst these adversities, my mother, sister, and I contracted COVID-19, with my mother enduring a lengthy hospital stay followed by rehabilitation in a nursing home. The pandemic also revealed the devastating diagnosis of frontal temporal dementia for my mother, leaving her visually impaired, requiring pacemakers, and unable to care for herself. As her primary caregiver, I made the difficult decision not to return to the workforce, resulting in the loss of my job and professional certification as a medical coding specialist.
At the age of 63, I am determined to rebuild my life and return to the workforce. I have embarked on the journey of self-study, diligently relearning Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Pharmacology to refresh my knowledge in preparation for regaining my certification. However, the financial burden weighs heavily on me as I cannot afford the courses necessary to update my skills to the current ICD-10 coding scheme, which is vital for employment opportunities.
This brings me to my urgent plea for your support. I desperately need a car to attend medical appointments and reintegrate into the workforce. The funds raised through this campaign will be used to purchase a reliable, used vehicle with fewer than 200,000 miles. Your generosity will provide me with the independence and mobility I so desperately need at this crucial juncture of my life.
I understand the gravity of asking for help, but I am left with no other option. Your assistance would mean the world to me and would be a beacon of hope in a world that has presented me with numerous challenges. Please consider donating to my GoFundMe campaign, and together, let’s help me regain my independence and pave the way for a brighter future.
Thank you from the depths of my heart for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can provide. Your kindness and compassion will forever be cherished.
Sincerely, Cherol