Growing up with problematic parents, my twin brother and I learned early that we couldn’t rely on them for anything. At the age of 16, even though we were living in a barn home with them, we were kicked to the curb and forced to figure out how to survive on our own. We found shelter at a friend’s parent’s house, where we could finally start saving for a down payment on a place of our own. During that time, we found purpose in training for MMA, working hard every day to improve our strength and resilience. But life had other plans when I got into a car with my friend’s dad, who was drunk driving. The car flipped three times, and I ended up with a messed-up rotator cuff. Without insurance, I had to recover on my own, pushing through the pain and getting back to work the next morning. Just when I thought I’d caught a break, two months later I was robbed, and in the process, they cut the nerves in my arm, requiring surgery. Through it all, Ii’ve stayed patient, hoping for a chance to get back on my feet and build a better future”not just for me, but for my brother too. At this point, all I’m asking for is a break or a way to get a car so we can finally have reliable transportation and start moving forward.