Help Our Family Catch a Break
I never thought I'd be the person asking for help.
The last few years have felt like a roller coaster with no safety harness, and every time we think we've reached the end of the ride, life throws another loop.
It started when my husband, Anthony, went to the doctor for what we thought was a routine medical problem. Instead, he underwent emergency surgery and lost a testicle due to a lack of blood flow. Just when we thought we had survived that scare, on December 1, he was diagnosed with Stage 2B testicular cancer.
From January through March, he endured chemotherapy treatments for six hours a day while still doing everything he could to provide for our family. We watched him fight through the pain and the exhaustion, and thankfully, he started getting stronger.
Then came another setback.
After everything he had endured, changes to his veteran disability benefits turned our family's finances upside down. For the first time in our lives, we had to ask for help. We were grateful for organizations that helped us find temporary housing and gave us a chance to get back on our feet.
Then, in March, I became critically ill.
I was hospitalized with a severe septic kidney infection and was fighting for my life. During one of the scariest moments our family has ever faced, we were also trying to keep up with bills and maintain our housing. We were told there would be understanding while I recovered, but instead found ourselves facing even more uncertainty and stress.
As parents, we had to make one of the hardest decisions imaginable. We sent our daughters to California to stay with family so they could have the stability and security they deserved while we worked through our medical and financial crises. No parent wants to be separated from their children, but we put their needs first.
We kept believing things had to get better.
Then, in June, I was involved in a serious four-vehicle car accident.
The accident totaled our only vehicle and left me with injuries that continue to require medical treatment and follow-up appointments. As a hairstylist, my ability to work has been severely affected, making it even harder to contribute financially while recovering.
Our family is now juggling: • Medical appointments and treatments. • Transportation challenges after losing our only vehicle. • Lost income while I recover. • Daily living expenses. • Ongoing health needs for both myself and my husband, a disabled veteran.
This fundraiser isn't about giving us a perfect life.
It's about helping us get through one of the hardest chapters we've ever faced.
Every donation will help with transportation to medical appointments, prescriptions, everyday expenses, and helping our family rebuild while we heal.
If you can't donate, we completely understand. Sharing our story and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers means just as much.
The last few years have taught us that life can change in an instant. They've also taught us that people can show incredible kindness when someone needs it most.
We've survived cancer, medical emergencies, housing instability, and a devastating car accident. We don't want to give up now.
We're just asking for a little help catching our breath.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story and for any support you can give.
With love and gratitude,
Tristan and Family
