Help Gil Rebound-TODAY-8/4/14

Some of you may not know that my mom, Maxine Faison, passed away on May 1st. She battled ovarian cancer for over two years and now she’s at peace. I was her primary caregiver throughout that time. Last year, I moved in with my mom. Up until that time, I would stay with her in Raleigh, NC during the week and go back to my apartment in Durham, NC but that proved to be exhausting. I will always cherish the time that God allowed me to spend with her. My mom had a strong spirit and an endearing smile. Weeks before she died, she looked up at me from her hospital bed and told me I had a beautiful smile. I said, “Mom I got it from you.”

Mom gave more than she took, and it hurt me to my soul to see her struggle with her illness, the surgeries, several rounds of chemotherapy and clinical trial drugs. The last six months of her illness were particularly tough. She was in Duke hospital this past Christmas and she was in skilled nursing facility last Easter. I took care of Mom while attempting to work two part-time jobs and pursue an acting career. At times, I thought I would fall apart but I knew Mom was counting on me. So I held it together for her sake. But my sister being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, surgery and radiation last year also took its toll on our family. And it shook me to my core when my mother's brother died two weeks after she did.

I appreciate the tremendous outreach, as well as all the love and support that my mother and I received from our friends and family during her illness. I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU!!!

During these past two years, I have not informed everyone I know nor asked for help until now because I thought I had it covered. Now I realize I don’t have it all covered and I’m asking for help. With little income, for the time being, and my savings depleted; I find I must dig deep into myself, release the shame I felt around not being more financially prepared and ask for help.

I am just now awakening from a mental fog that has enveloped me for the last six months. I have awakened to find bills that are past due, such as rent and utilities, my car which is in need of repairs and inspection, property taxes that haven’t been paid and a payment for a loan that was taken out to help pay some of the bills my mom and I incurred while she was alive. Unfortunately, Mom didn’t have sufficient life insurance, so I still owe $983.33 for her funeral expenses. My sister, brother and I have yet to purchase a headstone for her grave.

I’m reaching out to you for whatever kind of financial support you might be able to offer. Your love and support through this difficult time means the world to me.

With Sincere Appreciation and Gratitude,

Gil Faison

p.s. I love you Mom