If you're here, you may know my mom well and are familiar with parts of her story. I want to start by thanking you, so much, for any support you've shown her over the years. She's endured more painful experiences in her life than anyone ever should, often carrying an unfathomable weight alone in an act of pure love and protection for my brother Aaron and I. She is, by far, the most resilient person I know.

For those who don't know her as well, I'd love to take a moment to share her story, but I won't judge if you skip straight to the end! ;)

One of my favorite things about my mom has always been her independence. When I was one and Aaron was three, mom went back to school to pursue her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. After raising us by day and attending class at night, she graduated on time and with honors, instilling in us early in life that we can do anything we set our minds to — so long as we had the courage and the gumption to go for it. She was our hero.

In 2012, after enduring the unthinkable in her first marriage, mom met John. Just recently, I asked her what drew her to him in those early days. She said, "I could tell he was a caretaker." And she more than deserved it.

Last year, after more than 20 years serving in the public school system as an SLP, mom made a rare and well-deserved decision: she decided to take a break. Finally having landed in a chapter of life where she felt safe to be provided for rather than having to be the provider, she stepped away from her career and allowed John, her then-partner of 12 years, to be the caretaker she always knew him to be. "If I said I wanted a chocolate cake right now, he'd be in there making it for me," she said. All he wanted to do was take care of her, and she finally let him.

In a devastating turn of events, in February 2025, John passed away unexpectedly. Unfortunately, he hadn't yet taken the steps to update his trust, thrusting my mom into the start of an emotional and legal battle of incredible proportion. In March, having just begun to process and grieve, she slipped and fell in the middle of the night, causing a fracture in her hip. That fracture took a tragic turn, causing a health battle of one month in the hospital, three weeks in rehab, and an unmeasurable amount of added grief and financial burden. Unable to walk or live independently in the weeks that followed, it was all hands on deck, with a few close people stepping into the role of her caretaker.

I wish I could give her every ounce of care she deserves, but between me, a freelance writer, and Aaron, a father of two and full-time student, we've exhausted the little resources we're able to provide to help keep her afloat. The court date for the attempt to update John's trust is coming up in mid-December. However, under the current circumstances, it's likely that she'll walk away with only a fraction of what he intended to leave her with. It's a deep shame, but it's the unfortunate reality.

If you're still here, thank you for reading my novel! And it's now that I ask for your monetary support, providing immediate relief for my mom's current circumstances which, unfairly, have reached a dire point.

With your donations, we plan to:

Despite it all, she maintains her sense of humor and humanity. She's still working on regaining her ability to walk, and we hope for a full recovery.

I wish I could express my gratitude for anything you're comfortable and able to give, whether it's five dollars, a ride to the grocery store, or even just a phone call to remind her that she's loved, and that she's not alone. It all goes so far.

I'm sending a huge hug to you for being here. Thank you so much. ❤️