Lien on me - surviving financial stress

I share something in common with Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, and many more
I went bankrupt. And not just in a Monopoly game.
Four years ago, my husband's business went down the drain, and we filed for Chapter 7 personal and business bankruptcy.
I felt I had a "scarlet letter" on my forehead - not A for adultress, but B for bankrupt.
I felt the whole world was pointing its collective finger at us.
Know what? I survived. So can you.
The silver lining? We found who our true friends were - who donated food and clothing, who offered to take us in if we lost the house.
I saved mucho moolah by doing a lot of the work my attorney's paralegals would have done -- hours spent up to my eyeballs in paperwork, but it saved us money.
We were 4 days from foreclosure - my husband had put up a 2nd mortgage as collateral for the business.
Bank personnel wouldn't take my calls, my emails, or let me see top management.
Our attorney told us to walk away from the house.
I called my district representative, who lit a fire under the bank VP - who agreed to meet with us, and came down $40,000, giving us the leeway necessary to refinance.
Never give up. Never stop fighting.