I’m a single mom and just over a year ago I was finally able to purchase a home for my son and I. It’s just a humble little single wide with a postage stamp yard, but nevertheless I was proud to call it our home.

I was able to make ends meet working a full time job and doing door dash on the side for any unexpected expenses.

Every time I pulled into our narrow driveway, the sight of the home I own made me smile. It still does but I feel wary more and more everyday-so afraid our own place may not be ours much longer

In May I was carrying our elderly dog outside when I stumbled over some baskets I had by the back door. My foot caught and twisted, I lost my balance, and with the pup still in my arms, I had no way to break my fall. I came down heavy, my full weight landing on the foot that was still twisted. The dislocation was instant. Followed by the break. All three stabilizing bones in my ankle snapped.

In no more than a second, my life took a serious hit. My son called 911 and I was rushed to the trauma unit. The dislocation was so severe that it cut off the blood flow to my foot.

With much pulling and tugging they managed to straighten it enough in the ambulance to a point where a faint pulse was detectable-all before any pain meds could be administered.

I had surgery the next morning-8 screws, two pins, and a plate. That was the easy part. The weeks after proved challenging-to say the least. I felt helpless, with only my son to help me, The pain seemed relentless. And I lost 100 percent of my independence.

The break is called trimalleolar fracture with dislocation and is in the top 7 percent of the most serious injuries one can have with an ankle.

Recovery is lengthy, often taking years, and many patients never recover fully.

I’m learning to walk again now, after months of wheelchair rides and crutches but only for short bouts. The swelling quickly bulged out in knots on either side of my ankle. My entire leg hurts at times. And the electric-like shocks of nerve pain seem to prefer nighttime to come out in full force.

But the most worrisome part is I may never be able to return to the profession I’ve spent a big chunk of my life doing I’m an optician and on a slow day I’d easily get 15,000 steps in over an 8 hour shift. I doubt I could last an hour currently

But I’m determined to find a job I can do at home or at least at a desk, but at this point, I’ll never catch up on the missed mortgage payments. Foreclosure is on the horizon and I have no idea where my son and I would go if we lost our home. For family, it’s just us

Ive researched local agencies. hoping to find help, but with the fallout from the devastation our town sustained last year from hurricane Helene, everyone’s pockets are empty.

As humbling as it is, I’ve come here in hopes that someone can help us keep our home. I’m desperate. I’m scared. And out of options.

So this is a humble request for help from a mother and son. Please help us keep our home by donating the funds we need to get our back mortgage payments up to date,

When I’m back on my feet, literally, I’ll find a way to pay your kindness forward-in time spent volunteering and/or funds to help another family through crisis.

I look forward to reaching the point when I can.

Thank you in advance for any and all donations.