Hello, my name is Karolis, but if translated in english it might be easier to call me Carl. I want to share a deeply personal story that has shaped the person I am today.

Growing up, my childhood was anything but ordinary. My mother worked tirelessly as a night-shift nurse to keep food on the table, while my father, a carpenter, drowned our lives in alcohol. I was just 5 or 6 when my sister and I would escape in the middle of the night with our mom, fleeing his drunken rages. The memories of broken glasses, shouting, and chaos are still vivid in my mind.

By the time I was older, I found myself being dragged into my father's destructive habits. At the wood and lumber factory where he worked, he would steal alcohol and even involve me in his schemes. He promised me ice cream to buy my silence, but all I felt was fear, fear of the monster he became after every drink, fear of the violence and self-harm that followed.

The day my parents divorced when I was twelve was a bittersweet relief. Finally, the house felt safer. But with my mom working harder than ever to keep us afloat, I had to grow up quickly. I became her emotional rock, burying my pain so no one could see it. When I was alone, the weight of it all would crush me, leaving me screaming silently into the void.

School wasn’t an escape either. I faced relentless bullying, feeling unwanted and unloved. I survived those years alone, with no friends, no support, just sheer willpower.

As an adult, I thought I had finally found my escape. I married the love of my life and started building a future. But the scars of my past followed me. My trauma and feelings of unworthiness made it hard to cope. My wife battles OCD, and I found myself slipping into depression, overwhelmed by my inability to help her or fix our situation.

Despite our challenges, we managed to buy a small apartment. It was a dream come true, but the reality of extensive repairs turned into a nightmare. I secretly took out a $15,000 loan to renovate the space, hoping to shield my wife from further stress. Now, this debt is crushing me, draining the little energy I have left and leaving me feeling hopeless.

This is the first time in my life that I’m asking for help. It’s not easy to be vulnerable, but I realize now that I can’t do this alone.

Your support can help me pay off this debt and find the stability I desperately need. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me closer to a fresh start. Your kindness could be the light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story. Together, we can transform this struggle into a story of hope, resilience, and new beginnings.