My husband and I have a family-owned landscaping business. We poured our hearts into building it up more these last few years after we took over. We took over from the former owner that my husband worked with since 2011. They were facing their own health struggles and couldn’t continue with the business. It came down to either us taking over or we would suddenly be without that income. We decided to continue on with the business. This was not easy. We had no idea how to run a business from behind the scenes. We had to learn as we went on.
Our Story
Unfortunately, our family has recently been hit with some unexpected and overwhelming challenges. We recently faced a devastating setback when some of our most essential business equipment was stolen. This has crippled our ability to keep our landscaping business running smoothly. It has made it even harder to meet our financial obligations, including rent, utilities, and college expenses.
We are actively investigating the whereabouts of our equipment and the person who took them. We do know that it was stolen by a guy that worked with us. This is someone my husband has known and worked beside for years. The police haven’t been much help yet. They told us at the beginning to just ask nicely for our stuff back since we are adults. Really?
On top of that, my husband has always been the backbone of our family and business. Now, he is battling serious health issues that have made it impossible for him to work as he normally does. We have one child away for college and two more at home. We’ve found ourselves in a financial situation that’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage. That’s why we’re reaching out for support during this challenging time.
My other income has also been cut because of financial issues. I couldn’t pay for my website hosting which resulted in losing the website and having to start all over. I lost all of the earlier work as well as clients and ads. I have been working hard in building the site back up to regain clients and income from it.
Our family has always been resilient, but the past few months have tested us in ways we never imagined. We are still waiting on a diagnoses for my husband. His inability to work as he normally has has created a significant financial gap. One that has been hard to fill. This is especially true as we continue to support our oldest child, who is away at college. College expenses are high. We have always made it a priority to make sure our child has everything they need to succeed.
Why We Need Your Help
Starting a GoFundMe campaign wasn’t an easy decision for us. We explored all other options and realized we can’t do this alone. The funds we raise through this campaign will go directly toward our most pressing needs. These include covering rent and utilities. We also need to support our college-going child. Additionally, we must replace the stolen equipment that is crucial for our business. We’ve tried to cut back on expenses. We looked for other sources of income. We even considered taking on more debt. But it’s clear that we can’t make it through this difficult period on our own. That’s why we’re turning to our community for support—any help you can give will make a world of difference.
How Your Support Will Make a Difference
Your support will have a direct and meaningful impact on our lives. You’ll provide the stability we need to focus on my husband’s health. You will also help with our family’s well-being by covering rent, utilities, and basic necessities. Replacing the stolen business equipment will allow us to get our business back up and running. This is crucial for our financial recovery. It is also important for securing a future for our family. Additionally, your support will help us continue to provide for our child in college. This support ensures they can focus on their studies without the added worry of financial stress. Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us closer to overcoming these challenges. It will give us the strength to keep moving forward.
We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve already received from friends, family, and even strangers. Your generosity and kindness have brought us hope and comfort during one of the most challenging times in our lives. We understand that these are tough times for many. We cannot express how much we appreciate every single donation, kind word, and prayer sent our way. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing by us and helping us through this difficult period. Your support means more to us than words can express. We’re truly thankful for each and every one of you.
How to Donate and Share
If you’re able to contribute to our GoFundMe campaign, we would be eternally grateful. You can make a donation by clicking on the button below.
Every little bit helps, and we appreciate any amount you can give. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. The more people who see it, the greater the chance we have of reaching our goal. Your support means the world to us, and we thank you for helping us in any way you can.
We have also set up an Amazon Wishlist that helps cover some necessities. You can help out that way if you prefer.
In closing, we want to thank you once again. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and consider supporting our family. We know that with the help of our community, we can get through this difficult time and rebuild our lives. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to stability and peace of mind. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your support. We are hopeful that, with your help, we will overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than ever.
UPDATE 9/14/24:
Since Pete’s health is a major part of our current challenges, I wanted to share an update. While we’ve received some answers, they’ve led to even more questions. Pete is now being treated by 7 different specialists who are working to identify the cause of his significant weight, muscle, and strength loss. Years ago, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which he managed through diet until recently. Now, his fasting glucose levels are near 300, and his symptoms are also pointing towards Type 1 Diabetes. He has been prescribed a glucose monitor along with two types of insulin—one for daily use and another for emergencies when his levels spike too high.
Unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t cover the daily insulin, which costs us nearly $110 out-of-pocket. It also doesn’t fully cover the monitor and supplies, and test strips are currently out of stock, leaving us unable to get them. So far, these costs are around $35, with more expected once the test strips become available. The emergency insulin is also out of stock. We have no idea what that will cost once we can purchase it.
Additionally, Pete is showing signs of hypothyroidism. His doctors are puzzled, as he continues to lose weight rather than gain. This is atypical. He’s lost even more weight since his last appointment, adding to the medical uncertainty. His lab results also revealed potential kidney issues, so he will be seeing a specialist for that later this week.
Regarding the theft of our equipment and tools, we were recently informed that the case has been marked as inactive. This happened because the officer handling it seemed uninterested, arguing over jurisdiction instead of taking action. When we first reported the theft, he even suggested we “just ask for our stuff back.” Now, we’re left having to fight to get the case reactivated.
In the meantime, both my son and I have been putting in countless job applications to help cover our expenses while we try to get the business back on track. Although my son has gone on several interviews, no one is hiring, and I’ve barely received any responses.
We truly appreciate all the support we’ve received. We want to thank everyone for standing by us through these difficult times.
Update: 9-20-24
Pete has now been diagnosed with Stage 1 Kidney Disease as a result of his diabetes. Thankfully, his kidneys are still functioning at 100%. However, it’s crucial that he gets his diabetes under control. This is necessary to slow the disease’s progression.
We’re relieved that our doctor was able to find more affordable insulin options. Pete has started taking a daily insulin in the evenings and has an emergency insulin for significant spikes. Unfortunately, he’s had to use it several times, with his glucose levels reaching as high as 400. His blood sugar fluctuates wildly, and even small meals cause his levels to yo-yo. One morning, he woke up with a glucose level of 75 and felt terrible. It had been over 350 when he went to bed the night before. These swings are dangerous and concerning.
He’s still waiting for appointments with the other specialists. We are particularly eager to see the endocrinologist to get better control of his diabetes.
As for our business, we’ve almost given up hope of recovering our stolen equipment and tools. We’re starting over with the little we have, but it’s going to take time to fully recover and replace everything.
Once again, thank you so much for all of your support. It has truly helped us through the toughest of times, and we deeply appreciate each and every one of you.
Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom 
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