Blood, Sweat, Tears & Floods: Help Us Fix This House and Start Over
Three of the hardest words to say are "I need help"... My name is Lesley, and I am a concerned parent reaching out for support. My son's future is weighing heavily on my mind, and right now our most urgent priority is simply keeping a roof over our heads and making sure we can feed him. We are struggling to hold things together, and I am desperate to create stability for my little boy.
Over the past few years, our financial situation has become increasingly difficult. We are at a critical point where we need to repair our home so we can sell it and downsize to something more affordable. This is essential so we can secure a place for our son in preschool while I focus on finding stable work. Without these steps, we risk losing the little security we have left.
I'm not looking for a handout; I'm seeking a chance to get back on our feet and hit the reset button for my family. With your support, I hope to raise the funds needed to carry out the most critical repairs on our house, cover basic living expenses, and enroll our son in preschool. This would give me the breathing room to kick the job search into high gear and start rebuilding our lives. Above everything, I need to make sure my son has a safe home and is not going hungry while we try to get back on our feet.
This would be a turning point — allowing us to break the cycle of constant financial stress and build a more stable future for our child. I am willing to put in the hard work necessary. My focus right now is protecting our son and securing his basic needs.
I would be deeply grateful for any assistance or guidance you could offer.
MY STORY:
I am the youngest of three children in a working-class family. My dad worked as a diesel mechanic, and my mom was an artist. We lived modestly, never affluent, but managed to make ends meet. Everything changed in Grade 10 when my dad's company went into liquidation, and by the end of Grade 12, we'd lost our home and family stability. That setback sent our lives into a tailspin. I've struggled to breakthrough financially ever since.
After school, I had dreams of au pairing in the USA to save up and eventually buy a car and create a better future. However, changing policies and new requirements crushed those plans. Throughout my working life, I've taken on whatever jobs I could find — from telesales and general admin to accounts, bookkeeping, and eventually medical administration, where I worked as a sub-practice manager and medical secretary. Despite my efforts, our purchasing power has steadily declined.
In 2013, my husband and I bought a property, even though we weren't in the strongest financial position. We did it for family reasons — both our moms were getting older and living in a remote area of the Eastern Cape with no electricity. We wanted to bring them closer for safety and access to medical care. Unfortunately, the years that followed brought many unexpected setbacks.
We've poured blood, sweat, and tears into the property, hoping it would be our retirement plan since we have no pension. But the house has been problematic from the start. Shortly after moving in, we discovered a leaky roof, substandard electrical wiring that needed urgent attention, and many hidden defects that weren't disclosed. Since 2022 we have suffered floods almost every year. Insurance rejected our claims after the first major flood, and each subsequent one has only made the damage worse.
My mom has dementia and relies on her small state pension, which barely covers her medication and basic toiletries. She is totally dependent on us, adding even more strain as we know we won't be able to afford proper care for her as her condition progresses.
We are now at a crossroads. We desperately need to repair the worst of the damage so we can sell the house and downsize to something manageable. This is the only realistic way we can keep a roof over our heads, feed our son, and get him into preschool while I search for steady employment.
If it were just about me, I'd keep pushing through somehow, but I won't let pride stand in the way of giving my son the safety and opportunities he deserves. Please help me secure a stable home and future for him.
We need to sell the house because it’s too expensive for us to maintain or repair on our own, and afford preschool fees without breaking our backs financially. It's heartbreaking but necessary if we want Wyatt to have every opportunity in life—a loving home, quality education right from the start. We are seeking support not just out of desperation or necessity, but as an investment into Wyatt's future – a chance for him to thrive and reach his full potential with stability at last!
Your contribution could mean so much more than fixing our home. It represents hope; it gives us faith that someone believes in the goodness of tomorrow despite all odds today. Sharing this journey means you care deeply about giving children like Wyatt an equal start in life, helping them dream big dreams and live free from fear or hardship.
Together, we can turn these tears into smiles again – one brick at a time! With your support, let's create real change for Wyatt's future today!
