May 2014: One morning barely nine years ago, I dropped my van off to be inspected. At my age, I’d done this dozens of times and thought little about the task except for the unbudgeted cost and inconvenience.

After work, I stood outside the mechanics bay, barely able to process what he was telling me. Bald tires without treads; unsafe tires; no way this van should be on the road tires. Absolutely no kids in this van tires.

The cheapest and only way my van was going to pass inspection, with tires and a way overdue oil change, would cost $1,000.

Right there on the pavement I cried – I didn’t have $1,000. A week later the junk yard bought my van for $500.

Bankrupt and without cash reserve, the only way I got to work that summer is because my 16-year-old son didn’t get his driver’s license in May on his birthday. His dad had already dropped off a striped down, no frills car; but it worked.

I bit my tongue, hated relying on my abuser so many years after we were apart, but my desperation was real. I had to use this car to get to work until my son was able to get his driver’s license.

Every May I remember the sting so clearly…. My ability to support my children was extremely put in jeopardy. Fortunately for me, it was just my pride that got hurt that summer. But I seriously could have been backed into a painful corner.

This is why 100% of the profits for Rock Bottom and Faithless: Defeating the Lies of Domestic Violence with God’s Truth are being channeled into this nonprofit – a nonprofit to assist other victims with their transportation needs.