The $8000 House and the Basement Part 3
The basement steps were almost finished. Finally, we had a safe way to get down into the basement. No more crawling and scraping my way up and down. My body was in bad enough shape without having to navigate an obstacle course just to get downstairs.
While I had the upstairs wall open, I went ahead and ran the wiring from the third floor down to the basement, ready to be hooked into the circuit breaker. That way, I wouldn’t have to tear anything open later.
On the opposite side of the basement, I had started connecting the sewer line plumbing. I dry-fitted the pieces until I had the right combination of inlets and connections. I hooked up the line for the toilet and kept moving forward with the plumbing in general.
I also hooked up the bladder tank for the cistern pump and wired it into the breaker board. We now had a water source in the house, even if it was only in the basement so far.
I got the water heater set in place, too. This was actually a gift from someone who follows our page. I began dry-fitting all the plumbing lines, preparing to hook everything together. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of shutoff valves and solid support for the lines.
I also ran a GFCI outlet to one wall for another small water pump.
I continued cleaning things up, including the floor. I took the cabinets that had been upstairs in the laundry room and mounted them on the basement wall.
I ran another outlet on the opposite wall for my shop tools. I used old 4x4 timbers from the old deck to support some new shelves. I organized everything and got my little work area set up.
The basement isn’t finished, but neither am I.
Every day, I fight pain, nausea, dizziness, exhaustion, and so much more. But I keep picking away at things, a little at a time.
As many of you know, I deal with a lot of health issues. I’m on disability, and I don’t get much. People ask me, “If you can work on the house, why can’t you get a job?”
Here’s the difference.
I can work for 15–20 minutes before I have to rest for anywhere from half an hour to an hour. You can’t exactly do that at a regular job.
Some days, the brain fog gets so bad that I forget what someone told me just 10 minutes earlier. That’s not exactly a good situation in a workplace.
I’m dizzy all the time. That’s part of why my legs look like I’ve run through a field of thorns. Falling is a real concern, and that creates liability for an employer.
I can’t even get up in the mornings without feeling sick. I never know from one day to the next, or sometimes even from one minute to the next, whether I’m going to be sick.
That’s the reality of my life.
Recently, I made a post asking anyone who was interested to visit our GoFundMe and help us finish the house. Within 20 minutes, it had 20 downvotes and a bunch of negative comments. I ended up deleting it.
I’ve been called a panhandler and a beggar.
The truth is, it’s been the generosity of the people following our story that has helped us get this far. People have helped us with materials and given us a chance to keep moving forward. Six years of work, one project at a time, and we’re still at it.
I never imagined I’d have to swallow my pride and ask strangers for help finishing a home for my family. But here I am.
And I’ll take the name-calling if that’s what it takes.
Because the only thing that really matters to me is the future I leave for my family.
I’m not trying to build a mansion. I’m not looking for fancy things. I want to finish our house and give my family a safe, comfortable place to call home.
That’s what this GoFundMe is about. The money goes toward the materials needed to finish the house.
If you’ve followed our journey over the last six years, you know this hasn’t been an overnight project. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to do.
If you’re able to help, even a little, it would mean more than you know. And if you can’t donate, sharing our story would help, too.
Please help us reach our goal and get this house finished.
Six years in, we’re still building a home, piece by piece, project by project.
Thank you to everyone who’s helped us get this far. We wouldn’t be here without you.
GoFundMe**:** https://gofund.me/3187c802e