Hi, I’m Aidan.

Today is Mom Peggy’s birthday. She was my grandma, but more than that — she was my mom. She raised me, protected me, and poured every ounce of love she had into me. She passed away in February 2021, and I’ve had a temporary marker at her grave ever since. But it’s time for something permanent. Something that truly captures her life and her spirit.

I want to give her a 4-foot standing headstone, with flower vases on each side and her picture engraved on it. And on the back, big and bold, it’ll say MOM PEGGY — because that’s who she was to so many of us. Some people might wonder why go all out like this — but if you knew her, you’d get it. She was extra in all the right ways. The best mom. The best grandma. A great friend. A woman who loved her family so deeply, it hurt sometimes.

The total cost is around $4,000. Her siblings and my grandpa have helped where they can, but it’s still a lot. I’ve gone back and forth on asking for help — but the truth is, I can’t do this alone. If you can give anything, or even just share this, I’d be so grateful. I don’t want this to take years. I want to be able to look at that headstone and know she’s being honored the way she deserves.

Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for loving her with me.

—Aidan