Hi, my name is Cathrine, and I am humbly reaching out because life has pushed me to a place I never imagined I’d be. I am living out of my truck with my dog and my son, holding them close through cold nights and praying for enough gas to keep the heat running. My truck has become our only home, our only warmth, and the only thing keeping us from being out on the street.
I am disabled, currently waiting on a decision for disability benefits. I have a serious heart condition — I survived open-heart surgery once, and now I need another surgery, but I have no medical insurance. I only have one lung, and every day I fight to breathe, to stay warm, and to stay alive.
Four years ago, my husband was deported and taken from our family. I was left alone to raise our son. Soon after, I was in a devastating head-on collision that left me in a wheelchair for two years. I fought hard to
walk again, and I’m still fighting — but now, I’m doing it without a home, without income, and without family support.
The little I have left is slipping away. I must come up with $500 by November 14th to save my storage unit. Everything I own — my documents, my clothes, my memories — are in that storage unit. If I lose it,
I lose the last pieces of my life before everything fell apart.
Our dog, who has been with us for 10 years, is my son’s beloved companion. We adopted him together a decade ago, and he has been our protector and comfort through every hardship. Now he is very sick and suffering, and it breaks our hearts to watch him in pain. It feels like he is holding on just to keep protecting us, even though he can barely stand. We are devastated that we can’t give him a ypeaceful, gentle goodbye.t
Additionally, the truck we live in is becoming unsafe. My rims are damaged, and my tires are bald, dry-rotted, and falling apart. Every drive is a risk, and without safe rims and tires, we have nowhere to sleep safely.
Right now, I am asking for help with:
- ✅ $500 by Nov. 14 to save my storage unit
- ✅ New rims and safe tires for my truck — our only shelter
- ✅ Food and gas to make it through the cold nights
- ✅ A peaceful, humane goodbye for our dog of 10 years
- ✅ Basic living expenses while I wait for disability
- ✅ A chance to give my son and my grandchildren a small Christmas, so they don’t feel forgotten during the holidays
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. I am doing everything I can to hold on, but I can’t do this alone anymore. If you can help in any way — even a few dollars — it will directly help me survive and keep my little family safe.
And if you can’t donate, your prayers, your kindness, and sharing my story mean more than I can put into words. Your prayers truly keep me going.
Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping me hold on during the darkest time of my life.
With all my heart,
Cathrine
paypal.me/CathrineRiverayanez