Hi, my name is Tara Bergey. I want nothing more than to be a stay-at-home mom, fully present for my children. But lupus has made that nearly impossible. My body is under constant attack — the disease frequently targets every organ, leaving me in severe pain, exhausted, and often hospitalized. Over the years, I’ve had **9 major surgeries**, with **2 more scheduled**, and flare-ups happen unpredictably, disrupting everything I try to do.

The hardest part isn’t just the lupus itself — it’s seeing my children struggle with it too. Recently, my son told me he wanted to leave the hospital because I “look scary.” I cried. No parent should ever have to hear that. I cried even more when he said he would “just get a new mommy,” thinking that if I’m not fully well, we would need a nanny or babysitter.

When my time should be spent simply being with my children, it’s instead consumed by therapies, monitoring their organ health, surgeries, and day-to-day care. My husband has been my rock, stepping up to care for me and our children while also working — often taking unpaid time off — to keep our family afloat. Devon has had to be both mommy and daddy, which must be hard on his emotions, because it’s no longer just the two of us — it’s our two children and Marley, our service dog. We are blessed to have a loving **“village” of family and friends** helping where they can. Still, bills, medical costs, and daily necessities continue to pile up.

This campaign will help us cover:

* **Medical expenses** for lupus treatments, surgeries, and hospital stays

* **Daily living costs** like mortgage, utilities, and groceries

* **Special needs costs** for our children

* **Temporary help** so my husband can continue working while supporting us

We are humbly asking for your support. Your donation, prayers, and even sharing our story make a huge difference in helping us get through this difficult season.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping my family and me.

**— Tara & the Bergey Family**