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Send Love & Support to an Amazing Single Mom

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TLDR; Sole parent of a special needs child is currently in danger of losing their home and car. Please help this family stay afloat so they can exit this time of crisis with dignity.

My dear friend and our essential community member Sophie and her 6yo son August are in need of helping hands. Sophie is a social worker and therapist, and spends her days making people feel seen, heard, and cared for; now it's our chance to return that favor and help out this lovely human being.

Sophie and August are in danger of losing their car and their home due to financial strain. The stress of this is absolutely crushing.

Currently, August is in an intensive treatment program which has required Sophie to reduce her availability to see clients while he is in treatment. As a result of this, there is now a loss of over $1,000 in income per week. Sophie has no savings or credit available to use, as those have been exhausted by paying for August’s necessary specialized care and solely maintaining their life without assistance.

August began kindergarten in 2022, and was severely bullied to the point of having to change schools. This school year he has missed over 60 days of school due to surgeries, illnesses, and physical and emotional challenges. Supporting August through this time by getting the proper therapies and medical treatments has exhausted all of Sophie’s savings and credit.

Both Sophie and August are faced with multiple health challanges. In the last several years, Sophie has been diagnosed with: Hashimoto's disease, PTSD, ADHD, Adrenal fatigue, MCAS, and an arteriovenous malformation in her brain which must be monitored every 6 months.

In the last year, August has been diagnosed with; Autism, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorders, a genetic antibody deficiency, abdominal migraines with auras, and PANS. He also has an extremely high IQ, which along with the neurodivergence, makes him 2e.

August’s father died by suicide when August was an infant, and his family are not options for any support or assistance. She does have some good community support that she has cultivated through the years, but especially now her support needs are monetary.

Sophie lost her own mother in her teens, and most of her remaining family is unavailable to help. In addition, in the second half of 2023, she endured another sudden loss - her own therapist passed away after a tragic accident. Still, Sophie manages to show up for her child, clients, and community with grace and healing presence.

Given all that she is juggling, I would love for her to have the financial ability to sustain and breathe, so she can catch her breath in every other area of her life, so she can continue the hard work of being an amazing therapist, friend, neighbor, and mom.

Financial Realities
As most of you understand all too well, there are families who fall juuuuust outside the income requirements for state and federal programs like SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, etc. Sophie and August are one of those families, and the struggle to maintain some measure of comfort and stability is intense and real.

Also, psychotherapists working in any setting often do not have paid time off, so if we have to cancel clients (or they cancel on us), we lose income. This fact alone can drastically change life for a family that solely relies on this 1 income.

Some 2024 estimates put the cost to care for 1 child in the US at least $25,714. That's a 41.5% increase since 2016 and costs will likely continue to go up this year. Children with special needs require more financial resources.

Feeding herself and August, affording healthcare, childcare, medical care, managing physical and mental health needs for both of them, maintaining her home, maintaining her business... the list of To Do's and expenses is endless.

A Few Communications From Sophie

"In December 2023, August had 2 surgeries and was doing relatively OK in his recovery. I was advised to keep him home to rest, possibly for several weeks. During this time I will still need to try to work and see my clients, but I will need to cancel folks to appropriately manage his care. Between juggling all of this, everything becomes a real struggle since I’m just one person and I run out of steam. It’s humbling to ask for support, but I’m trying to walk the walk of calling on community in our time of strain."

"2024 has proven to be a long year so far. I’m sorry to share some sad news but I want to have you in the loop. A couple of weeks ago, August shared with me that he [is the survivor of [a very traumatic situation] at his school. He has been struggling to get to school because of his anxiety and trauma from bullying and these other incidents. Love you and just wanted to share so you know what we are going through. Thank you for being there."

Your Generosity Matters So Much! <3

Please feel welcome to reach out to me/DM me/text me anytime with questions, etc:

@natalieahocklcsw
773-270-1728

I will periodically update this page with any other life updates as well as the family's reactions to your generosity.

Much love and solidarity,
Natalie
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Donations 

  • Shana Maker
    • $50
    • 1 yr
  • Jamie Marks
    • $50
    • 1 yr
  • Holly Zann
    • $25
    • 1 yr
  • Tracy Drake
    • $50
    • 1 yr
  • Gloria White
    • $50
    • 1 yr
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Organizer

Natalie Hock
Organizer
Chicago, IL

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