Campaign to help Krista-Gay Taylor
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The Backstory
I am raising money for my graduate student, Krista-Gay Taylor, and her family. Krista-Gay is an international student from Jamaica whom I’ve known for about three years. She was a student-athlete as an undergraduate student and was a high jumper for the university's Track and Field Team from 2014-2018.
For the last two years, she’s been my graduate student in Child Development and Family Studies (CDFS). For the past several months, she has worked at the university's Nursery School. Before that, she cared for children at the university’s daycare center.
She is nearing the end of her master’s degree and has just one semester left to go in her studies (i.e., it’s a matter of doing a couple of classes and finishing her thesis on prosocial behaviors in adolescence). After graduation, she plans to become a preschool teacher.
The Cause and Costs
Krista-Gay’s mother (Sandra Tomlinson) has been diagnosed with recurring Stage IV cancer, and Krista-Gay understandably wishes to return home over the holidays to be with her mother.
Most members of Krista-Gay’s extended family have moved to the United States or Canada and are unable to be with Sandra during this challenging time (i.e., she is relying upon her friends for support during her illness). The CDFS program is doing what they can to make this happen, but she needs help from others to address all of the related financial challenges.
First, the cost of a trip to Jamaica at relatively short notice during the holidays is prohibitive (estimated around $1000). This expense alone is out of reach for a student who supports themselves on a graduate assistantship.
Second, Krista-Gay’s student visa will need to be renewed in order for her to resume her studies in CDFS after the trip home. This confers a direct cost (approximately $200 in application fees), but it is presently uncertain whether she will be able to complete these procedures during the holiday break. It is difficult to get an appointment for the visa renewal at short notice.
Consequently, it is possible that she may need to stay in Jamaica for additional time until the visa is approved. Unfortunately, if this happens she will lose her current source of income (i.e., she will be unable to fulfill her duties at the Nursery School during that period, and thus will not be able to be paid, though she will still be responsible for her regular expenses such as rent, etc.). It is difficult to provide an estimate of this cost given the uncertain time frame, and thus Krista-Gay requests $4,000 to cover her living expenses if she is unable to work.
Finally, Krista-Gay wishes to help pay for Sandra's care. Jamaica has no national health insurance, and her mother is uninsured. Understandably, the costs are causing significant stress to the family, and her mother is foregoing some treatments and tests due to these financial concerns. Due to the severity of the cancer, issues have arisen where she has had to stay days in the hospital and continuously undergo tests, so there have been more financial burdens in that regard. As of now, the estimated costs are $10,000 and continue to accumulate. If her visa application process proceeds smoothly and she is not delayed in Jamaica, any and all unused funds allocated for estimated living expenses would instead be allocated to her mother’s medical expenses.
What Krista-Gay’s Cause Means to Me
Krista-Gay is a beloved and respected member of the university community. Her young charges at the Nursery School care for her deeply, as do her peers and faculty throughout the College of Education.
While members of the CDFS program and LSHD department are helping with practical matters (e.g., letters of support for her visa renewal), neither unit is able to provide her with any emergency financial support at this time of need. That’s where you come in!
THANK YOU for ANY Help
As Krista-Gay’s advisor, I thank you for considering this personal request, and sincerely appreciate any help that you can provide to Krista-Gay. No gift is too small. Every gift will be appreciated and will be put to good use so that Krista-Gay can be with Sandra as soon as possible.
Please help me spread the word about Krista-Gay’s campaign; feel free to share on Facebook, via email, or through other similar means to anyone who may be able to help her attain her goal.
I am raising money for my graduate student, Krista-Gay Taylor, and her family. Krista-Gay is an international student from Jamaica whom I’ve known for about three years. She was a student-athlete as an undergraduate student and was a high jumper for the university's Track and Field Team from 2014-2018.
For the last two years, she’s been my graduate student in Child Development and Family Studies (CDFS). For the past several months, she has worked at the university's Nursery School. Before that, she cared for children at the university’s daycare center.
She is nearing the end of her master’s degree and has just one semester left to go in her studies (i.e., it’s a matter of doing a couple of classes and finishing her thesis on prosocial behaviors in adolescence). After graduation, she plans to become a preschool teacher.
The Cause and Costs
Krista-Gay’s mother (Sandra Tomlinson) has been diagnosed with recurring Stage IV cancer, and Krista-Gay understandably wishes to return home over the holidays to be with her mother.
Most members of Krista-Gay’s extended family have moved to the United States or Canada and are unable to be with Sandra during this challenging time (i.e., she is relying upon her friends for support during her illness). The CDFS program is doing what they can to make this happen, but she needs help from others to address all of the related financial challenges.
First, the cost of a trip to Jamaica at relatively short notice during the holidays is prohibitive (estimated around $1000). This expense alone is out of reach for a student who supports themselves on a graduate assistantship.
Second, Krista-Gay’s student visa will need to be renewed in order for her to resume her studies in CDFS after the trip home. This confers a direct cost (approximately $200 in application fees), but it is presently uncertain whether she will be able to complete these procedures during the holiday break. It is difficult to get an appointment for the visa renewal at short notice.
Consequently, it is possible that she may need to stay in Jamaica for additional time until the visa is approved. Unfortunately, if this happens she will lose her current source of income (i.e., she will be unable to fulfill her duties at the Nursery School during that period, and thus will not be able to be paid, though she will still be responsible for her regular expenses such as rent, etc.). It is difficult to provide an estimate of this cost given the uncertain time frame, and thus Krista-Gay requests $4,000 to cover her living expenses if she is unable to work.
Finally, Krista-Gay wishes to help pay for Sandra's care. Jamaica has no national health insurance, and her mother is uninsured. Understandably, the costs are causing significant stress to the family, and her mother is foregoing some treatments and tests due to these financial concerns. Due to the severity of the cancer, issues have arisen where she has had to stay days in the hospital and continuously undergo tests, so there have been more financial burdens in that regard. As of now, the estimated costs are $10,000 and continue to accumulate. If her visa application process proceeds smoothly and she is not delayed in Jamaica, any and all unused funds allocated for estimated living expenses would instead be allocated to her mother’s medical expenses.
What Krista-Gay’s Cause Means to Me
Krista-Gay is a beloved and respected member of the university community. Her young charges at the Nursery School care for her deeply, as do her peers and faculty throughout the College of Education.
While members of the CDFS program and LSHD department are helping with practical matters (e.g., letters of support for her visa renewal), neither unit is able to provide her with any emergency financial support at this time of need. That’s where you come in!
THANK YOU for ANY Help
As Krista-Gay’s advisor, I thank you for considering this personal request, and sincerely appreciate any help that you can provide to Krista-Gay. No gift is too small. Every gift will be appreciated and will be put to good use so that Krista-Gay can be with Sandra as soon as possible.
Please help me spread the word about Krista-Gay’s campaign; feel free to share on Facebook, via email, or through other similar means to anyone who may be able to help her attain her goal.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristin Moilanen
Organizer
Morgantown, WV
Krista-Gay Taylor
Beneficiary
