‘Getting the Courage to Ask For Help’

In her youth, Heather Wilson had difficulty reaching out to people for help for fear of being embarrassed or perceived as a bother. 

She felt the need to be independent and become self-reliant, adding that many people suffer in silence instead of reaching out because they’re afraid of being judged. 

“There's just such a bad stigma around homelessness or people asking for help,” Heather said. “There are people that need help that won't ask for help because of the stigma around, ‘oh, I don't want to look bad’ or ‘I don't want so and so to know I get this assistance.’ I just think it all comes down to getting the courage to ask for help and reaching out.” 

At this point in her life, Heather said she’s become more of an open book and has grown more comfortable sharing her stories with others. 

“I've learned that I feel like the more you share your journey, problems and experiences, the more other people are more prone to share theirs,” Heather said. 

Heather was born in Burlington and then moved to Marion when she was around 10 years old. At 16, Heather moved to Boone and at that time didn’t have a legal guardian to enroll her into public school. She started working at Wendy’s to make an income and obtained her GED. She enrolled herself into community college at 17 and went on to get an associate's degree in general education. The following year she started working at RHA Health Servies. 

In 2016 she was accepted into Appalachian State University with the hope of pursuing a degree in communications. She withdrew due to being under too much stress. She later worked for TJ Maxx and Carter’s baby clothes store, transferring to the Carter’s in Asheville in 2019. She was put on medical leave in 2022 when she started having health issues while pregnant with her daughter. Heather said she had a difficult and “traumatic” pregnancy that caused her to be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, struggled with edema affecting parts of her body, and also endured hyperemesis gravidarum that caused extreme nausea and sickness. 

Due to the pregnancy’s effects on her, Heather said she was in and out of the emergency room and wasn’t able to hold a job in addition to her partner at the time having difficulty finding work. Heather had her daughter, Charlie, prematurely in 2022 and spent many nights in the NICU with her. In the years to come, Charlie had a lot of health concerns and doctors' visits. 

More concerned about taking care of her daughter, Heather started to struggle with postpartum depression and had difficulty taking care of myself.  

“I was more focused on my daughter and her appointments and making sure she was healthy,” Heather said. 

She added that she wishes that postpartum depression was taken more seriously by the public, as it was “probably the darkest, most horrible thing I've been through my entire life.”  

Climbing her way out of the depression around mid-year in 2024, she then felt the effects of living in Asheville through Hurricane Helene the following September. She didn’t have water or electricity for two weeks, living between an apartment that had flooded and with her previous partner’s family who had a flooded basement and needed a roof replacement. 

Heather decided to make the move back to Boone this past January and she and Charlie moved in with her father. Still dealing with health issues and finding it difficult to work, Heather has applied for disability. While figuring out her next steps, Heather reconnected with a family friend who told her about the Hunger and Health Coalition. She now receives help with medications at the agency and was relieved to hear about the Food is Medicine program that provides healthy food boxes as she was re-diagnosed with Diabetes. 

Operations Assistant Mary Bishop discusses HHC services with Heather while registering her for support.

When signing up for services, Heather said HHC staff “were very nice” and went over the application with her and explained how all of the agency’s programs work. 

“I felt so comfortable and not at all judged and was glad to be here and get help,” Heather said. “I was very happy with the whole process and situation.” 

She added that she’s appreciative to grantors and for those who donate to HHC as "They are helping and making a difference in others’ lives. The impact and the number of people they are helping is amazing. They are helping us provide for our children, our friends, our families, our community.” 

Heather is currently receiving assistance from local agencies to help her get on her feet and is still waiting to hear back about disability. She was also recently accepted back into App State. 

“I want to finish my degree because I want to show my daughter you can do anything you want to,” Heather said. 

She’s hoping to pursue online classes and was interested in childhood education to learn more about how to help other children like her daughter who have health conditions. Charlie still has multiple doctors and appointments she attends. All the while, Heather said she still remains a happy kid who loves blocks, rubber ducks, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and watching Ms. Rachel.  

The Hunger and Health Coalition wishes Heather good luck in her endeavors and will continue to be here with her every step of the way!