Like all parents, Tynesha Ferrell wanted to be the best provider possible for her children. But time and again, the mother of two faced what seemed like insurmountable obstacles.
“Struggling so much and feeling like I couldn’t catch a break in life, honestly, I almost wanted to give up, mentally,” she said.
She didn’t give up.
As an abusive relationship ended in divorce, she juggled caring for her two young daughters with working full-time and attending school to become a certified medical assistant. “It was a lot,” she said.
She didn’t give up.
She worked as a medical assistant until her passion for helping people led her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She attended nursing school while the COVID-19 pandemic raged.
She caught COVID twice. She was hospitalized when the illness attacked her lungs and made it so difficult to breathe, “I honestly thought I was dying.” Her children also got sick and missed significant school time.
She didn’t give up.
Her finances took a hit. She depleted her savings and used her government stimulus check to pay for food, gas and car repairs.
She didn’t give up.
“I had to tell myself: I am strong. I am beautiful. And I am enough. If I could believe those three things, I could persevere.”
Still, it was difficult explaining to her girls that they couldn’t afford to do the fun things other families enjoyed.
She didn’t give up and neither did her girls, who are now 14 and 12. They brought home A’s and B’s on their report cards. Tynesha also excelled academically, earning a spot on her nursing school’s President’s List.
When Tynesha had trouble paying her rent and utilities, a member of her church told her about United Way’s Project LIFT. The family-driven program works with partner organizations to offer critical short-term assistance and flexible resources designed to help families achieve long-term success.
“I’ve never been one who asks people for help,” Tynesha said. “I’m normally the one who helps others. But I had to humble myself.”
In addition to helping pay Tynesha’s rent and utilities, Project LIFT assisted with her tuition payments so she could realize her dream of becoming a nurse.
In October 2023, Tynesha attended a pinning ceremony, the traditional initiation into the nursing profession. Fittingly, the ceremony was held in a church. God, she says, is at the center of her life. “The gifts he’s given me include my loving heart and a desire to help others.”
Then came another challenge: the licensed practical nurse (LPN) exam.
The first two times she took the exam, her score fell short.
She didn’t give up.
“I think it was anxiety. I just kept praying — I know the information. I know it.”
Upon learning she passed the exam on her third try, she fell to the floor in tears.
Now that she is working as an LPN, Tynesha knows what financial empowerment feels like. “Bills are paid up. I’m able to give back to people who helped me. The financial burden is gone.” She can afford to enroll her girls in activities such as soccer, cheerleading and dance. The family has moved into a new home.
“All the struggles and insecurities I had before, that all comes back to you emotionally and mentally. That hurts a single mom.
“I feel complete now. I’m so grateful for United Way’s Project LIFT. It made a big difference. It helped me tremendously. You continued to check on me throughout the process. You helped make my dreams come true.”
She helped herself with hard work, sacrifice and determination to never give up.
