Take a Sad Song and Make It Better

Jude is a smart, funny adorable boy who just turned 13.  And on Sunday at Prairie Fest, his backpack was stolen.

Inside his mini Minecraft backpack were his phone, the birthday money he planned to spend at the festival, and a bicycle lock key, among other things.  Jude did everything right: he labeled his backpack with his picture, address and phone number; and he put it where the carnival worker insisted while riding the Zipper.  But when he got off the ride, the backpack was gone.

The story so far breaks my heart - the little kid takes his birthday money to our local, family-friendly carnival to have fun with my daughter Soleil, only to have it taken by some ne'er do well. 

But the situation is a bit more grave.

Jude's mother Amy cannot replace any of his items - not his backpack, not his lock, not his birthday money.  Why? Because her Cerebral Palsy has progressed to the point that she must go on disability, and until that disability kicks in, she has no income...for a year.  As a single mother she receives no child support from the absentee father.  And as a breast cancer survivor with a disability, she has taught her kids to be independent.

Jude cannot get himself places without his bicycle lock, and he will not be safe while traveling without a phone.  In order to replace his belongings, I am starting this GoFundMe campaign.

Should we exceed the $420 needed to replace the stolen items, I will give Amy the extra money to change her locks... because the house key was stolen too.

Let's take Jude's sad song and make it better.