Asking for Help Isn't Something I Know How to Do

Since I was a kid, asking for help has made me feel like I was less. Like needing it meant I wasn't good enough — that if I really had it together, I'd be able to handle it on my own. So I stopped asking. I got good at struggling through things quietly instead, putting on a mask that said I was strong and capable, even when I wasn't. Some of that makes more sense to me now, having only realized at 49 that I'm AuDHD. Some of it was just how I was raised.

But today I'm asking anyway. I need help.

My cat Fuzz needs surgery to remove a bladder stone. It isn't optional, and it isn't something we can wait on. The date got moved up, and there's been more waiting than I expected — a urine test to make sure his body can handle the procedure, a stressful trip to the vet and back that he did not enjoy, and more waiting for results before we know exactly how things move forward. He's been through a lot the past little while, and so have I, just trying to stay steady and calm for him while my own stomach is in knots.

Here's what I'm doing about it: 100% of proceeds from my Friend card line are going straight toward Fuzz's medical bill. If a card isn't what you need right now, there's also a direct donation link —> FUNDS FOR FUZZ

Writing this post already feels like more than I'd normally let myself say. But I'd rather say it than keep pretending I don't need anything, the way I always have. Fuzz has been by my side through a lot. This is just me trying to be there for him the same way.
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— Anita, YYC Crafts 🌱