Fund Dream Job - To become a Drone Pilot

Amy Mains ~ I'm a 55-year-old amateur published drone photographer with a unique story.

5 Years ago, my wheelchair-handicapped husband asked for a drone. We had a lifetime together. We rarely bought gifts for one another. This request shocked me. He wasn't tech-savy. However, I thought it would give him something to focus on other than his disease, pain and disability. To get outside and explore. To see things he could no longer get to, even in a power wheelchair.

We bought him a DJI Spark for Christmas that year. An inexpensive but quality drone. What I didn't expect was that it bridged a generation gap with his children. They assisted him in learning new skills, and it enabled family time. This time was precious. His life ended not long after that. He required hernia surgery and the surgery resulted in the need for a double lung transplant. His condition resulted in his sudden death 21 days later. He employed my children as caregivers. I was his primary caregiver at the time and was unemployed. We lost his SSD and two full-time jobs. Our entire household income. He had no insurance and no pension.

I was planning on utilizing the drone to become a 107-certified drone pilot. I had taken a master class in aerial photography with DJI/a drone company.

After losing all income, I needed to return to work to support my home and children but wasn't mentally strong enough to return to work for a hospital after his death. I accepted a job offer at Walmart and continued working on my dream around my full-time position as a Personal Shopper.

I flew many days around the rain, wind, chores at home and a stressful job. It provided me with music and flight therapy. I decided to make my husband proud and started to enter my photos in competitions. Within a year, I had become a published aerial photographer. I have four pictures in Drone User Magazine (published out of England) and was one of four people chosen for Scavendrone/Thunderbird Drone Festival. I also have two photos published in Pennsylvania Beautiful Calendar.

The income from my job provides me with a home. The drone I have been utilizing was discontinued over two years ago, and I noticed that the batteries are damaged this week. As with all technology, the time has come that it will need to be replaced. Without funding, I will not be able to continue my dream. Drone equipment is expensive. I have acquired the skills but no longer have the equipment and money needed for my certification to work in this field.

Additionally, my vehicle is 17 years old with 160,000 miles, and my commute to my job is 30 minutes away from home. I must put aside my dream and utilize my car for needs, not desires.

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