I'm not sure where to begin;
I suppose some transparency would be helpful to start; i am the mother of a wonderful 6yr old named Ember Storm. She was born oct 5th 2018. This child SAVED MY LIFE. I was an addict for years before Ember was born. Always struggling to find a way out. I've buried all of my friends and had accepted id be buried by 30.
I currently have 9years clean from opiates and 5years clean from any maintenance drug (ex: subs/ methadone)
A few years before Ember was born i started for the umpteenth time to find my way out. I had no family in the area, and I needed to stay away from old "friends". Loneliness found me in the arms of Embers dad. Unfortunately it was not a healthy relationship, and he got me tangled up in a legal mess that ended me in jail while pregnant. I was transferred from the prison to a woman and children's program where I'd stay until nov 2018 (1 month after Embers birth)
While we have this legal issue going on, Embers dad is involved in a serious car crash that had one fatality and left him blind, with a traumatic brain injury. He can not provide any kind of care for her because he cannot remember a conversation had an hour ago. He woke up from his coma thinking he was still in hugh school.
I was taken in by my half sister when I left the women and children's program who ended up asking us to leave on Christmas day because "she didn't want to make a bad impression on her new boyfriends parents by having us living in the attic"
With nowhere to go, I found myself with the same half sisters parents, where I was able to settle in and get myself a job, while navigating being a new single mother in recovery.
I have since been able to move into a house in a lovely neighborhood with my step brithers dad. He became diagnosed with liver cancer and had space for us and needed the extra income. We moved into a hoard/neglect situation that i have painstakingly mitigated with little help. The deal is that we rent from said extended family member while we work on the house and said family member makes proper medical and living arrangements. I have put money, time, and tears into this entire property. Unfortunately with mental health (hoarding) aspect of the family member and early on set alzheimer's, it has become apparent that we will continue fixing a house around a man who will never leave, or hold up his end of the lease agreement (keeping up on and fixing major house issues). His constant nit picking of how we live or things we have done to make the house clean and safe is getting to be too much. Plainly I am being taken advantage of but this has been the best option for me to ensure Ember would have a bedroom, a yard and get into good school systems.
I have remained gainfully employed by the same company (5yrs) and hold a management position while also taking any online courses I can to further myself in my career.
In May of 2024 my world was turned upside-down once again when my daughter was brought from her annual physical at her Dr's office, to the children's hospital because her Blood Glucose # was well over 400. They quickly diagnosed her with type 1 diabetes. Since the diabetes diagnosis we have started testing for ASD and Parder Willis syndrome.
Ember, not only has T1D but she is allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts and has an obsession disorder that manifests itself as food obsession. This has made everything from grocery shopping, to trying to eat meals for myself without being begged for the food on my plate near impossible. We recently started seeing a specialist for this issue.
Im here with my head hung asking for help to get out of the small hole im currently in so that i can continue to build credit that would afford me loans to give my daughter, who saved my life and makes me want to be a better person everyday, the best possible life I can.
I want others to know I have the means to support the help given. This is a "step ladder" not a crutch. I am just at a loss right now; but i also won't give up or sit idle hoping for handouts. Im very proactive.
I understand this may not seem as urgent as other needs and it is embarrassing to ask for help, but I make too much money for most assistance programs, and we are on the waitlist for Ember to receive some benefits under her father's disability, but I have gotten into a financial hole trying to carry us to all kind of dr appointments, specialists, specific diets, medical supplies, prescriptions and of course regual bills.
I am reaching out to community in hopes that there will be people out there that would have grace for a recovered addict who has clawed their ways out of the depths and made it to being a blue collar member of society all on my own will and determination.
This help would be huge for my daughter and myself. I can not imagine going any deeper into a financial hole without losing everything I have worked for 10 long years in recovery for!
I have plenty of proof and paperwork to prove my sobriety, our need, my daughters conditions, ect, and I'm MORE than happy to share.
