She Was a Nurse, Not a Number

Her name was Elaine.

She was a registered nurse in her mid-50s, the kind of person who brought soup to her neighbors and extra socks to patients. You could hear the exhaustion in her voice, but also the dignity. She had spent her life helping others. Now, for the first time, she was the one in crisis.

And she didn’t know what to do.

“I’ve never needed help before,” she whispered when she called. “I don’t even know what to say.”

When Life Hits from All Sides

Elaine was 61 days away from foreclosure.

Not because she was careless, or had run up debt on vacations or luxury items. No—she was behind because she had taken time off work to care for her mother, who was dying of cancer.

Her income dropped. Her savings disappeared. Her mortgage company, unaware of the life unfolding behind those missed payments, filed a Notice of Default.

She didn’t tell her friends. She didn’t tell her coworkers. And by the time she found Foreclosure Rescue, she was nearly out of time.

The Real Face of Foreclosure

I’ve spent the last 26 years working with homeowners just like Elaine. People who never imagined they’d face foreclosure. People who are responsible, hardworking, and doing everything they can to hold it all together.

Most of them don’t realize how common their situation is—until they fall behind and start getting mail that feels more like threats than notices. The fear builds. So does the shame. That’s when people start to shut down.

Foreclosure isn’t just a legal process. It’s an emotional one. And it tends to strike hardest when people are already carrying something heavy: grief, illness, divorce, job loss.

That’s why at Foreclosure Rescue, we do more than paperwork. We listen. We help homeowners breathe again.

Elaine’s Turning Point

Elaine had already packed a few boxes when she called me. She was preparing for the worst. But after a short conversation, she realized she had options.

We started by writing a hardship letter—one that told her story clearly and respectfully. We collected proof of income, expense records, and a timeline of her situation. Then we contacted her mortgage servicer and applied for a forbearance followed by a loan modification.

We also found a local nonprofit program offering emergency assistance grants to caregivers. Within three weeks, her file was under review. In six weeks, foreclosure was off the table.

But more than anything, she got her peace of mind back.

“I feel like I can breathe again,” she told me after the paperwork was finalized.

That’s the moment we work for. That breath. That relief. That reset.

What You Might Not Know

If you or someone you know is behind on payments, here are a few things worth knowing:

You’re not alone. Millions of people have faced foreclosure—most of them through no fault of their own.

You have rights. Foreclosure laws vary by state, but almost all offer time to respond, negotiate, and find a solution.

There are programs. From state assistance grants to HUD-approved housing counselors, help is available.

You don’t need to be perfect to get support. You just need to reach out.

A Call to Empathy (and Action)

If you’re a lender, real estate professional, attorney, or community advocate—don’t forget the human side of housing. The spreadsheets don’t show the grief, the sacrifice, or the quiet resilience behind each foreclosure case.

Every file is a life.

Every loan is a family.

And every successful resolution is a story worth telling.

One Call Can Change Everything

Elaine didn’t think she’d ever be the one facing foreclosure. But she made one phone call—and it changed her outcome completely.

If you’re in a similar place, I hope you’ll do the same.

📞 Call me, David Litt, at 224-344-5700

🌐 Visit: www.4closurerescue.com

Because you’re not a number either.

You’re a person worth fighting for.

And your story isn’t over.