Donate to Stephanie and Maggie's Journey to Stability

I'm Stephanie and I've had a hell of a go of it the past few years.

I've been working on my mental health for quite some time, which can be expensive on its own. Over the winter, I was really sick with either the flu or COVID, which ultimately left me with multiple concurrent infections that needed treatment at the end of a month-long struggle. This racked up plenty of medical bills, despite having insurance. During the same period of time, my dog had a stubborn UTI that took an entire month and 3 different antibiotics to get ahold of. We also added estrogen to the mix to be taken daily.

Once we got on the other side of all that, I thought things would be looking up, but the hole was only bound to get deeper. My dog Maggie then had a confusion and collapse episode, which then led to more vet visits and more testing. Now we're pretty sure she has Addison's disease, which will take monthly injections and daily medications. I've now paid close to $600 out of pocket, after maxing out my vet credit card, and there is still no end in sight as there is now a guaranteed monthly expense.

In addition to all of this, I was in a not-at-fault accident last year that totaled my car and incurred various unexpected expenses at the time (the second not-at-fault totaled car in 6 years - thanks St. Louis). Two months after buying my new-to-me car, it suddenly needed $900 worth of work. Jump to today, and I now have a flat tire due to having a nail in it, and I need at least one, probably two new tires to prevent uneven wear.

On top of all the life things happening, life just continues to get more and more expensive. All of my bills have increased over the last year, some of them multiple times, and yet I am making the same amount. I've got personal property taxes due on my car that have increased due to inflation and tax rates and the fact I had to get another new car. I've got income taxes due because of the side hustles I've had to work just to be able to get by.

I've been doing everything I possibly can to make money, and somehow there ends up being a wrench in most things. I can't drive Uber Eats right now because I'm on a donut, and I can't donate plasma because one of my proteins is too high. I don't qualify for most loans because of my debt-to-income ratio, income that is largely from self-employment. The loans I do qualify for have extremely high, predatory rates.

I haven't been able to keep up with my house. I haven't been able to spend time with friends or live my life. I haven't been able to date or find companionship. I can't even think about any goals or dreams I might have. The only thing I am able to do at this point is try to keep my head above water, and I am failing at that one task. I need help, desperately.

I know that I'm not alone in this. I know that I'm not special. But this is what I'm dealing with. Rent is due tomorrow and I can't pay it. Rent that will incur $100 in late fees, every day, until I can pay it. I'm at a loss and I can't seem to dig myself out. I'm not even surviving at this point, and I'm exhausted.