Hello. I am Paris Jade. I am attempting to raise funds to cremate my mother and possibly view her one last time before doing so. At Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, a cremation is $1885.00 and to "fix up her body" so I can maybe look at her one last time, if I can handle it, is $125.00.

Those who know me, know me and my mother have had a bittersweet relationship. She was a wonderful mother to me growing up. She taught me kindness, wicked music, shared with me awesome movies, made me feel loved, and cooked home meals. She was truly a wonderful, loving mother. In her later years, she met and fell in love with a man who led her down a road of drug addiction. She had a child during this time and gave me my wonderful little sister.

The first photo, of us hugging, was taken a few months ago. I saw my mom and felt this sensation to talk to her and hug her... I did and a friend passing by happend to capture me a photo of that moment... a moment no one knew at that time would be the first I hugged my mom in months and very last.

I tried to help my mom, but you can't help someone who is not yet ready for change.

I pictured a future where I would be visiting a healthy and sober her, in her own home.

Unfortunately, on December 17 in the early hours of the morning, still dark and cold, she passed away... alone, in a storage unit.

My momma.

She was and is my everything. My mother. The reason I'm even here. I wasn't able to save her from the life she chose, but I CAN take her with me on the rest of the journeys I make in this life.

Anything helps, even just reading my story and allowing your heart to feel something helps.