https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1VY6C1G9XXQNO?ref_=wl_share

 

I’m a firefighter and national registered emergency medical technician with previous long term history with intensive care facilities for developmentally disabled individuals and with various times of care facilities in healthcare. After Covid I needed a change from bedside care and decided to jump into the fire service and the emergency setting. I’ve held two jobs at once since I was 16. Now I’m an adult with three children 💙 🩷 💙 and they’re all medical miracles, one has fetal Cystic Hygroma and a hand disability due to being born with eleven fingers, one has partial spinda bifeda, and the other has hearing loss. They range from under a year to 12 years old. Two of them have a birthday the same week as Christmas.

Often people think first responders or those in health care make great money but that’s not always true. As a firefighter/EMT I made $11.75/hr with no benefits… HAND TO GOD AND GOD AS MY WITNESS I’m sharing the upmost truth that’s what I’m paid. I’m struggling to survive financially. I also care for two adults with disabilities that are family members. One is in a facility and on hospice and the other things within their own home and I just go over their 6x a week if not one a day to help them as they need and upkeep their home. I’ve been called to be a giver and a caretaker in every aspect of my life.

 

I learned about this website while desperately searching on social media trying to find some kind of help for the holidays. I’m in a position where I have to choose between formula for my infant and protein shakes for my oldest (who also has AFRID) and Christmas/Birthday gifts. All my children believe in Santa including my oldest who will be turning 13 and I’m so proud of that. I’ve worked hard every holiday season to keep the magic alive and create beautiful memories with my children that can’t be bought. 

 

This year I’m struggling more than ever and I’ve dropped to my knees praying and searching for help. Above is my Amazon Wishlist (it was suggested that I included one to help improve our chances of a blessing). Every girl is labeled with a colored heart (🩷= daughter / 💙 = son) and it tells their age. I’ve reached out locally trying to find resources and I keep getting denied bc it’s not being offered (Things like Angel tree) or places like Toys for Tots has reached their max for families in need. I’ve tried some churches and I’ve been denied. I’ve kept my eye out on Amazon marketplace for free items hoping to find things in decent condition I can clean up and fix to wrap up and put them under the tree. Both boys have a milestone birthday the same week as Christmas.. the youngest is turning 1 and the oldest is turning 13. Every birthday deserves celebration and is important but there’s some birthdays that are true milestones and these are two of them. 

I’ve been praying for a miracle while always doing the footwork and searching, asking, and trying not to beg but it’s getting to the point where I may have to. I will embarrass myself and do anything necessary to give my children a Christmas and a birthday.

 

I work. I take care of others. I take care of my family. I go without so they never have to know how rough we really do have it so they don’t have a childhood they need to grow up and recover from. They have no idea how rough things are and that’s also something I’m proud of. We don’t get assistance of any kind (like snap, EBT). I do qualify for WIC which is the program that helps with formula but unfortunately the formula my infant uses isn’t eligible for that benefit so WIC unfortunately is useless to me so instead I donate the formula it does cover to other babies in need. 

Weekly i also put food and items in our local blessing boxes. Clothes. Books. Toys in great shape. Food that my children don’t care for. Anything I have left over or not long need… I donate it. I’m fortunate our local food pantry allows us to go once a month and they give us some much food but some of it is things we can’t eat bc of food restrictions/allergies so I donate it to our local blessing boxes to help others. 

 

I work tirelessly in every area of my life. Life doesn’t own me anything. Things have been rough since I came into this world and I didn’t have a great start at Life but I will not be a product of my environment and I will do anything and everything to make life better and give my children anything and everything I never had and that all starts with me being a present parent that is healthy, loving,. supportive, selfless, and all the things that are opposite of what I was born into. 

 

I’m a giver not a receiver. Even when I do have much to give I still give bc I know what it’s like to have nothing. Not everything is about money. I can give my time. My efforts. My attention. Prayer. Community Service. ECT. 

I don’t really know what to say here. I’m better at answering questions than I am talking about myself. I’m an open book and someone can ask my anything. I’m putting myself out here and risking embarrassment so my kids can have a decent Christmas and birthdays. My faith is stronger than my fear. I don’t know if this website will bring my kids any blessings but it’s worth a try.

I don’t like talking about my hardships unless asked directly bc I know very much so that so many in this world, especially in this day and age, are experiencing tough times. I never want to turn anything into a competition and make it seem like I’m more deserving than the next person or that I have it worse. Bc there’s always someone that has it worse. I don’t want to compete with others and I don’t want to share stories that causes weight on other people’s shoulders or their hearts. I don’t like people hurting and I don’t want to be the reason for that hurt even if it’s just me sharing our story. 

 

It’s a rough one but there’s always someone who has it rougher. I’m not more deserving than the next person. I can only pray that where ever this goes and who ever reads this feels drawn to help us. 

My kids wishlist is updated regularly bc I try to stay up to date on sales so I’m often +/- things away. I truly pray this finds it’s way to someone who has the means to help my children with a blessing. Please know even one thing makes a difference.

Thank you

God bless.

• Listing ID: 15441
• My City: Ashtabula County

1. Want to help this posting? Write down the blue six digit posting ID above next to the Posted By wording, and then click here