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A hardship fund forLynn Marie

$690 given of $10,000 goal

2nd Chance at Life - College Goal

Started by: Lynn Marie Coffren

2 shares

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    Post Campaign to a Blog/Website

Hi everyone!

My name is Lynn Marie and the beautiful dog in the photo above is Dale (the Wonder Pup), my 10-year old Akita-Lab mix. I am a 55-year old college student, pursuing a BA in History and scheduled to graduate in July of this year.

But in the past few months I’ve run into a few major snags. After losing my home in 2009 after the housing bubble and the economic crisis that followed – my husband also lost work for a construction firm he had been with for almost 30 years – we moved into a tiny apartment in exchange for property maintenance. Unfortunately, keeping up with the workload here has become too much for my husband (he is 61).

I also suffer from recurring cluster headaches, a condition that only in the past few years was finally diagnosed, which means that I deal with severe pain 15 to 20 days every month. As of right now, no treatment has been effective, and I have had this condition since 1982.

After moving, I found myself suffering from severe depression and anxiety. For 20 years I was a graphics and web site designer (first as “Webkooks” in the late 1990s and most recently as “Island Creek Media”, working for myself, but I was self-taught and could no longer compete with overseas firms offering design services for significantly less than U.S. web designers typically earned. I could not support all of us; my husband was only able to find small landscaping and carpentry work during the warm months here in Maryland.

By December 2013 the lack of work and depression had taken its toll, and I had to be hospitalized over the Christmas holidays since I wanted to harm myself. I had given up.

I got help – counseling and medical help – and began to improve. And I realized in 2014 that nothing in my life would improve unless I made some bold changes to improve myself and my circumstances.

Someone once asked me if there was anything that I had really wanted to do just for myself during my lifetime, and my answer surprised even me: the one thing I ever really wanted to do was to go to college. But I never took the opportunity because I was always concerned with everyone else was happy; by ignoring me, I was burning myself out and shortening my own life.

Fast forward to 2018. I’ve worked hard to maintain an almost 4.0 GPA in hopes that a college education will help me to gain a career that will get us out of the day-to-day treadmill of anxiety. Aside from occasional carpentry work for my husband, and dog-sitting I do for neighbors, there is little money coming in. And once again, anxiety and depression are threatening to derail my future.

I have just started the first of my last three terms, and my schooling is all I can manage right now. I’ve started pulling what little I have left together to sell online, and looking for part-time work though I know there is little chance I can manage school and work at the same time. The threat of being hospitalized again is a constant source of worry for me right now.

Added to all of this is for me the worst thing of all: my beautiful best friend, Dale the Wonder Pup, has cancer, and I will be losing him to this disease in the very near future (days or weeks – he was diagnosed in May 2017).

The bottom line is that getting my degree must be my priority now, and this is where you can help. Donations will go towards medical expenses, gas, groceries, etc. and towards getting a down payment for a new place to live.

I’ve applied for all the assistance available in my state and county, so rest assured I am doing whatever I can to meet these goals myself. My college offers career counseling services and I am taking advantage of that also. I’m also going to create some art to post for sale in the short-term; aside from spending as much time as possible with my dog in his last days, art is the most therapeutic thing I can do to get through these first few months of 2018.

Updates will be posted weekly – or more often depending on how things improve – and I will keep everyone updated on goals and successes as they occur.

If you took the time to read through to the end of this, thank you for doing so – you are awesome! Please know that you are loved and blessed.

~ Lynn Marie

Latest Update

Dear Friends, I'm sure you've noticed that I haven't been posting updates. I'm in my last 5 weeks of school and working very hard. Although I still need help, I'm not very good at asking for it and besides, so many need help more than I do and I understand that everyone has their own problems to cope with. Thank you to everyone that has helped me. With Love, Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

June 1 at 7:58pm

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Hi all! I am keeping busy with studying for my last term classes and trying to hold things together financially and emotionally. It's a lot like work (which I am also looking for with poor results). Anyway the first week of school is a very busy one, unlike other terms, and I'm just figuring things out as I go along. Thank you for all the encouraging messages here and in email, I really appreciate it! Financial help is still greatly appreciated if you can spare a bit. I hope everyone is doing well, love you all! ~Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

May 13 at 12:08pm

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Hi everyone! I am still here, and still need your help. Finished up the next to last of my college terms (got an A!) and the photo shows our newest family member, Rufus. Current needs: Tooth extraction and upcoming neuro appt. Thanks for caring! You are loved!! ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

April 30 at 3:14pm

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Hi everyone! Been studying, studying, studying and really quiet - just going through phases I suppose. Find out what's going on here: https://momofdale.livejournal.com You are LOVED!!! ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

April 8 at 1:33pm

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Hey kids, I have not given up on my campaign, it's just I know how challenging times are for everyone right now. If you can help, I would surely be grateful. Sincerely and with love, Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 30 at 10:20am

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I'm not going to lie - I am super depressed after losing Dale, and if you've seen my Twitter posts you know how hard I'm taking it even almost 2 months later (I'm weeping as I type this). And still trying to get through school, find work, and all with massive headaches to keep me miserable. I swear, I'm trying not to be this way, and I hope things even up soon. Please help, if you can. Even if I'm down, you are still loved, no matter what. ~Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 25 at 3:01pm

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I'm having one of those days - you know the ones where you think to yourself, "How am I even functioning on a day like this?" And I'm sitting here with a migraine and trying to write a research question for a 30-page capstone paper. While I'm doing this I am worried about how to keep my head above water, start a graphic design business, and still manage school. Help, please. If you can. Love, Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 20 at 11:39am

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I have always tried - even when my depression is at its worst - to remain positive so that other people do not need to feel worse just from interacting with me. People who know me - and strangers even - will attest to this. </br> </br> But things keep trying to trend away from my mood staying at least normal, and this has been one of those weeks. I miss my dear boy Dale worse than ever. I am suffering from chronic pain and the cluster headaches have gotten worse. It's so difficult not to be able to just think like a normal person! </br></br> I'm working on my graphics design website but have no work yet, and worrying about just being able to pay for gas, doctors and the like is weighing me down. </br></br> Please keep me in your prayers and send positive energy. If you can make a donation that would be great, and if not I understand we're all muddling through. </br></br> The latest updates are on my blog at https://momofdale.livejournal.com </br></br> Love to all! ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 17 at 10:37am

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I am still struggling to meet my bills but working on a strategy to get through this summer and into next year. I will be returning to doing art, web design and graphic design soon. While I'm doing this I will still need financial help to get through and build a new clientele. My goal is to have some level of regular income by the end of August (when my school loans come due). This doesn't eliminate the possibility of a full-time paying job, since I won't turn one down. It will just help me feel I'm not sitting and waiting for something to happen. More information will be posted to my blog soon, and I'll link it from here. Remember, you are loved! ~Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 11 at 2:10pm

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A quick update to my friends... I am in need of a new printer, which I plan to use to use not only for school but to print high-quality copies of artwork for sale. Right now I have an almost 2-year old Brother color printer that is damaged (it won't print high quality; everything has lines through it). That's the short story behind it, anyway. Trying to find ways to survive financially until after I graduate in August of this year. Remember, you are loved! ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

March 3 at 1:22pm

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Hi Kids! Well, here's a traditional "#TongueOutTuesday" photo, Dale never did like the whole grooming thing, especially after a good face rub in a pile of poop (he was a DOG, they sometimes do that). I am under so much stress that I have no recollection of my last appointment with my counselor. I told her I'm using my last brain cell for school, and shouldn't have to remember everything. On the way back I stopped by the local library to look for work. No one was around who could help, but it was worth a shot. But because of the fact that I have ZERO recollection of my last appointment I was advised to avoid getting a job for the moment. In the meantime, I am working on a Powerpoint presentation for school about discrimination against the disabled, since - after all - I am one. I'm focusing most of it on mental illness and "invisible" disabilities. That's the news for now. Hey, if you can spare even a little bit, please considering donating? Love to all! ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

February 27 at 12:14pm

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Hello my friends! I back to studying again after a few days of my medication modifications have been in place. I am still grieving the loss of Dale but life must go on, I know he would want me to be happy and telling jokes like I usually am. I'm going to stick with school until I can't. I have another 4 month left beginning in March but my husband has no work now due to medical issues and I may have to have surgery sometime in the middle of all of this for a couple of hernias. So we are down to no income for now. If it remains like this I may have to drop school and work, which will be almost impossible while I continue having cluster headaches. Not sure what cluster headaches are? Visit this site: https://clusterbusters.org/ I am asking for financial help, as I've used up any and all county services here including health department, food pantries, and thrift stores. Please help... and know you are loved.

Posted by Lynn Marie

February 22 at 5:41am

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Losing Dale last Thursday has been a bigger shock to my system than I could imagine. Every time I turn a corner I expect him to be there, and he isn't. The emotional toll has been pretty high, even though I know our decision to let him go spared him a great deal of pain. Remember the changes in meds I posted in a previous update? It turns out they took me off the wrong medication (Cymbalta) and left me on Lexapro, and the little bit of Cymbalta they took away was enough to set off several days of fibromyalgia pain. Since then, they've put me back on Cymbalta, and now I am being weaned off of Lexapro. I have no idea how long this process will take. At any rate, I am behind in school and dancing fast to get caught up, the cluster headaches have gone insane, and now I find I will have to sell whatever is not nailed down on eBay to try to make ends meet. Life has GOT to be better than this, somewhere, somehow. No matter what I am going through, you are loved. ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

February 16 at 5:37pm

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Since I am going through changes in my medications for depression and anxiety, I am not sure what to expect over the next five weeks. But I did not expect in week one to find myself in more pain than I have experienced in 20 years. The reduction in Cymbalta has triggered an enormous flare-up of fibromyalgia. It's not that I don't know how to live with fibromyalgia, but that I had no idea it could be this painful. My arms and legs are especially pained to the point where I cannot sit for 5 minutes without having to get up and move around just so I have some other distraction from the severity of the pain. Anyway, that's what is up tonight. It is really messing with my schoolwork and I am not happy about this at all. Just keeping everyone up on what's going on! Thank you my friends for your love and support. ~ Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

February 12 at 8:53pm

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On February 8, I lost my best friend, my heart and soul. He finally became so ill that when I saw that he was in pain, I knew it was time. He went peacefully with my husband and I hugging him and telling him how much we love him. Changes in my meds for depression had begun working after a week and then this happened. I realize medication has its limitations, and that as a human being I have to cope with awful things happening in life just like anyone else. Even so, for me, this is the most awful thing, and though I have been through horrible things before, this has to be the worst. It's less than 24 hours after, and I'm devastated, but trying to push through my school assignments anyway and keep moving ahead. I hope all of you are doing well - or at least the best you can in your own circumstances. You are loved, and don't ever forget that. with Love, Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

February 9 at 1:38pm

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Dale and I don't take many selfies and you can tell we have no idea what we're doing. But we're together, and that's what counts. There's a new blog post here: https://momofdale.livejournal.com/ And probably another one this weekend (I feel on brewing). I still need your help and hope you will continue to stick with me, retweet this link, whatever you can do. I send hugs to you, and Dale sends big slobbery kisses of gratitude to each of you. Love, ~Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

January 26 at 1:54pm

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Hello my friends! This is just a quick update to let you know that my blog page has been set up, and you can find me here: https://momofdale.livejournal.com Blogging gives me the opportunity to share what's going on without overwhelming everyone with updates. Please see the blog for recent news. Although I am dealing with a serious round of cluster headaches (4 days so far), I want each of you to know that I am grateful for your support and will do whatever I can to continue to "pay it forward" by helping others navigate life's difficulties in some meaningful way every day. You mean a great deal to me, and again, thank you so much for your kindness! - Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

January 18 at 5:32pm

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Don't be afraid, it's only me! The first week of school has gone smoothly, despite headaches and some aggravation due to insomnia. No snags though, and 7 weeks to go this term (ends 3/4). I'll just keep getting smarterer! :) Just a quick update to let you all know that I need to get an ultrasound done. May not be anything major, let's hope it isn't. Dale is doing okay, still holding on and seems in good spirits. I'll have a blog link posted soon so if you want you can keep up on my progress, but I will update at least once a week here. Grateful thanks to my contributors so far! Sincerely, Lynn Marie

Posted by Lynn Marie

January 12 at 2:04pm

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Lia Frankiewicz — 6 years ago

Lynn Marie, We are sisters in the headache business. After next week I may have some hopeful news. I have both clusters and migraines for years and I’m flying to a specialty hospital for help. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us! Lots of love and kisses to sweet Dale. I didn’t see the Donate Button, so we blondes have trouble sometimes or I can slip some $$$ under the table! Lia and Grayson

Show 17 more updates

21 Supporters

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  • Kirsten Pflomm5 years ago Congrats on the A and the new Rufus!
  • LadyDanita5 years ago A little bit that i can share, just sorry that it's not more! Xoxo
  • Kirsten Pflomm6 years ago Try not to get overwhelmed; do one thing at a time, check it off the list, and move onto the next one. Inch by inch, life's a cinch; yard by yard, life is hard. Keep up the great work!!
  • Valda Petersen6 years ago Best wishes.
  • Anonymous6 years ago
  • Ladydanita Powell6 years ago Hope this little bit helps toward printer, or whatever else you need. Xoxo, ~LD &Mimsey
  • Anonymous6 years ago
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