A Mother's Plea: Keep Our Family Afloat

My name is Krystilina, and just days ago, my world was turned upside down. I live with my husband and our son—our little family, quiet and close. But one night, everything changed. At 12:30 in the morning, my husband woke me up, struggling to breathe. In that dark, panicked hour, I checked his vitals—they were terrifyingly low. We rushed to the emergency room, and that's when the nightmare began.

Doctors told us he had pancreatitis, kidney failure, and sepsis. Since Thursday, May 29th, he has been intubated and sedated—trapped in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. His body is now battling respiratory distress and an unrelenting fever. Every day brings new complications, new fears. I sit beside him, watching the machines breathe for him, praying for something—anything—to go right.

On top of the heartbreak, reality still knocks. I found out my job’s FMLA doesn’t offer paid leave—only PTO, which I’ll run out of by Wednesday, June 11th. We’re quickly running out of options. I’m doing everything I can to take care of our son, to stay strong, to keep going—but even buying groceries or snacks feels like climbing a mountain. I have to fill my gas tank weekly just to make the trip to the hospital and back.

If you're able to help in any way, it would mean more than I can say. Even the smallest support could help keep me and my son going. Right now, every bit of kindness feels like a lifeline.