On December 30, my beloved husband of 16 years, Rick (in the center of the photo), died suddenly and unexpectedly. I was expecting my husband home for dinner. My children were looking forward to seeing their Papa. Instead, a police officer came to the house and told us he was never coming home. For me, the man I loved and married, with whom I built a family and planned a future together was abruptly and unalterably gone. For our kids, half of the only parents they've ever know was suddenly gone. We were all left shattered by his loss. Rick, a doctor, was our family's primary breadwinner, while my work as a writer supplemented the family's income. When I was laid off in late summer, Rick became the sole breadwinner, while I searched for a new job. His death leaves our family without our primary support, and me to continue my job search as a single parent. Fortunately, a combination of various benefits and my husband's estate promises to be enough to keep us afloat, once we begin receiving them. However, while we wait for these processes to run their course there are bills and other expenses that must still be paid to keep the wolf from the door. So, at the request of several friends, I have put up this page to seek just enough to get us through the next couple of months until the resources coming to us are in place. Anything beyond that will go to the kids' college savings plans. Your help will greatly ease the burden of our loss, and sustain us through these next couple of months.