Hello,

My name is Nikol and I am 28 years old. I've been taking photos all my life. It was my hobby in elementary school, then I studied it in high school and then it became my job.

My mom got into a car accident 6 years ago, an event that turned my whole life around. She had been in an artificially induced coma for almost a year, and doctors said she would not wake up and, if so, she would not be able to walk or talk.&nbsp;I moved from Prague back to Zlín so that I could visit my mother every day in the hospital, I stopped taking pictures at that time and found another job.

When my mom woke up, I was a involved in her process of learning how to walk, talk, and helping return to her normal life for a year.&nbsp;I admire her for this will and thank her for raising me and for having the strength to help her cope with this life goal. I didn't stop believing for a moment.

When the situation calmed down a bit and my mother returned to home life after almost two years, I went to Thailand for a month to visit my friends and to relax and some yoga and meditation.&nbsp;I intentionally went without a camera, I thought that was no longer what I wanted to do, I felt some "creative burnout". But it was only there that I found out how much I missed it, how I began to see things differently again. My fateful turning point came, when I realized that photography is my mission and that through it I can fully express myself.

As soon as I returned, I continued to photograph weddings, I was in Nepal 4 times and my friend and I published the book My Nepalese Love in Pictures. Trips to India also opened my eyes more and more.&nbsp;Photographing people and emotions in different parts of the world and passing on knowledge in the form of lectures and exhibitions is what gives me meaning in life. I know very well what it's like to have nothing and I also know what it's like to have a lot.&nbsp;I think it is important to show us, here in our beautiful republic full of people who do not realize the true value of life, what that life can be like in another country.

Unfortunately, I have now lost my great joy and at the same time my livelihood. When I went from one photo shoot in Čáslav to another photo shoot in Prague, I stopped at the Tesco express in Dubč for a few minutes.&nbsp;All my equipment - both cameras, 4 lenses, a new MacBook, a hard drive with a large amount of data not yet backed up and much more I left in the trunk of a locked car where it was not visible.&nbsp;However, this mistake became fatal for me and after a very quick purchase, a surprise awaited me in the form of a stolen car. It was the most expensive snack of my life.

I immediately called the Police, but they suggested that I not count on them finding it and to start looking around the bazaars.&nbsp;Due to the situation that affected us all this year, when as a wedding photographer I had canceled, moved or shortened weddings over the season, I really had almost nothing left.&nbsp;Unfortunately, I did not even have the technology insured and buying a new one is an investment of more than CZK 200,000.

I wholeheartedly ask you for at least partial help and I promise that I will never leave my faithful partner out of my sight ever again. Please help me continue to do what I love.

As compensation for your help, I can offer, for example, a book about Nepal, a canvas painting from an exhibition or what I do best, ie photography.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nikoldrobnafotografka" target="_blank">Nikol</a>

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Help Nikola, who got her livelihood stolen

Nikola is asking the YC Heroes for help so that she can get the basic equipment she needs for photography. Nikola makes a living as a photographer and unfortunately all her equipment was stolen from her car.