Support Alison and Lee's Fight for Stability

Like a lot of people, Alison and Lee have had a hard few years, and despite doing everything right, they are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Alison was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2021, had surgery in February 2022, and spent the month of April 2022 having radiation. She then began seven years of tamoxifen.

Unfortunately, tamoxifen’s side effects have also been grueling, to the point where she can no longer work full-time.

Alison is on reduced hours at her job for the foreseeable future. She has applied for long-term partial disability through her work, but the claim remains in bureaucratic limbo. If that comes through it will offer some limited support, but it doesn’t change that her overall income has been radically and permanently reduced.

Alison’s partner, Lee, has been her rock through this process, but he has also had his hands full working to maintain employment in a chaotic tech industry (if you’re looking for a a creative and collaborative problem-solver, please let him know!).

Lee lost his job in January of 2024. Three days later, his mother fell ill. He immediately traveled up to northern Maine to help manage the health crisis she was facing, and as the only family able to take this time, spent the first half of the year going back and forth between Massachusetts and Maine until she could be moved to a safer environment. 

As you might imagine, this made looking for much-needed work almost impossible; and he is still periodically going to Maine to check on her.

Alison and Lee are now two people trying to survive on less than one full salary. Rent has gone up. Food prices have gone up. Savings have been emptied by crisis after crisis. Car insurance is due and the car needs repairs. Utility bills have been missed. Student loans are due. While their health insurance is partially subsidized through Alison’s job, it now takes a larger chunk out of her reduced paycheck. 

Alison can’t work more. Lee’s job search is in progress, but is still interrupted by his elderly parents’ needs. And together Alison and Lee have about two months before paying rent becomes a problem.

We need to help them before they wind up in free-fall, and we are running out of time.

$20,000 will get the debt they’ve gone into to survive the last several years under control. It will get the rent paid. It will insure the car and keep it safe to drive. It will let Lee help his mother where no one else can. And it will let Alison - whose multiple medical conditions are exacerbated by stress - continue to work and maintain health insurance for her and Lee.