Beloved community,

We are reaching out during a very difficult and unfolding situation.

Earlier today, during the ongoing winter storm in Tennessee, a large tree branch fell onto the back of our mom’s home, collapsing part of the roof over a shared living space. There is now a gaping hole in the roof, with snow and rain entering the room, and many of her belongings have been damaged or destroyed. Power is out across much of the area, including her home, and service is extremely limited — we feel lucky we were even able to reach her briefly through spotty reception.

To make matters even more tender, our mom is currently healing from a heart procedure and also recovering from a respiratory virus. With temperatures forecast to drop as low as 6° over the coming days, our biggest prayers right now are for her safety, warmth, and protection of her lungs, so she can avoid pneumonia or further complications while she heals.

This past year has already been extraordinarily challenging for her, with back-to-back incidents and costly home repairs caused by severe and inclement weather. Each event has required resilience, resources, and strength, and this most recent storm has arrived at a moment when her capacity is already stretched thin.

She is also a retired teacher who devoted over 35 years to her students and community, offering steady love, guidance, and care to generations of young people. She has spent her life giving to others, often quietly and without asking for much in return. As her family, we are hoping to come together with our community now to help lighten her load and surround her with the same care she has given so freely.

This storm has left thousands without power, and officials are saying outages may last for days. Repairs cannot begin immediately, but we know that stabilizing the roof, repairing structural damage, replacing ruined belongings, and preventing further water and mold damage will require support beyond what she can manage on her own.

My sisters and I are starting this GoFundMe to help secure her home, begin repairs, and ensure she can stay safe and warm as she continues to recover. Even without photos right now, we wanted to reach out as soon as possible so support can begin to gather while the situation is still unfolding. (Cell & power service is out)

If you feel called, any contribution — no matter the size — would mean the world. And if financial support isn’t possible, sharing this or holding her in your prayers is deeply appreciated.

She has faced so much, one thing after another, and we are holding hope that this moment can be met with collective care, kindness, and relief.

Let’s help lighten her load together.

With gratitude and love,

Zahra, Roxi, Marieam, Alex, Jaime & family