Our Journey: Help Jennifer & Lily Rebuild

Hello, my name is Jennifer, though many who knew me growing up called me Jenny, and my daughter’s name is Lily.

Our journey has been filled with unexpected challenges and unexpected sources of strength, including the steady influence of our faith—and even a story that deeply mirrored our own. As art often imitates life, It Ends With Us—first told in a novel and later brought to life on screen—had a life-changing impact on me. For years, I remained in what I now recognize was an abusive marriage, convincing myself that the emotional, physical, financial, and intimate harm I experienced would eventually stop—that if I tried harder, things would change. They did not.

In this story, I found it impossible to ignore the painful parallels to our lives—not just the shared names (Jenny [mother] and Lily [daughter] also appear, making the emotional connection feel almost surreal), but also the small coincidence that my separated husband’s name, like Ryle’s, begins with an R. Most of all, it deepened my awareness of the impact that staying in this situation could have on Lily’s future. In the story, when Lily held her own daughter and chose to end the cycle of abuse, it hit me especially hard. That moment made me realize that I needed to make the same choice—to protect my daughter’s future and break free, no matter how hard it was.

This realization, along with the grace of our Heavenly Father and the support of those around me, gave me the strength to leave our situation behind. With no access to our marital funds, I was blessed last summer to find a pro bono attorney who advocates for those affected by domestic violence and who offered to help me obtain an order of protection and then officially file for divorce near the end of 2024 after the situation severely escalated.

Today, Lily and I are working to rebuild our lives. We are at risk of losing our home—the only stable place Lily has known. If I am able to refinance our home into my name, Lily and I may be able to stay—giving us the chance to continue rebuilding our lives in safety and peace. Adding to our challenge, our vehicle’s engine and transmission recently failed, ironically on the freeway on my way to a divorce hearing on April 10, 2025, leaving us without reliable transportation. We now depend on the incredible kindness of friends to get to and from school and Lily’s activities, which require daily drives of over thirty minutes. Her school does not offer transportation, and her involvement in sports and music adds to the difficulty.

I am a full-time master’s student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in trauma, a 72-credit program that requires practicum, internships, and intensive coursework to complete my degree and become licensed. I am also raising my daughter alone and providing all transportation for her school and activities, often at varying hours and sometimes requiring multiple trips in a single day. Completing my education is the most sustainable path to financial independence and stability for us. I do not feel very comfortable asking for help, but I am learning that sometimes I need to.

Any support you offer would help us keep our home, regain transportation, and allow me to finish my education—so that I can one day give back by counseling and volunteering with survivors of domestic violence, just as others have helped me.

Sharing our story would mean more than you know. Every kind word, prayer, and share helps us keep moving forward.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading our story and standing with us.