Help Our Family Through Mom's Recovery

UPDATED: April 16th

Pre-op went well.

Next up, the surgery on Monday the 21st.

Please share our story and thank you for your support.

Hi, my name is Laura, and I'm reaching out to you today because my family is facing a difficult time. I'm scheduled to have both of my knees replaced, which will require six weeks of recovery time. During this time, my husband will need to stay home to care for me, as well as our two adult sons who have disablities and require constant supervision.

This means that we'll be without an income for several weeks, which will make it difficult to cover our basic expenses and care for our family. We've always been proud to support ourselves and our boys, but this surgery is an unexpected hurdle that we need help to overcome.

Over the last two years, my pain level increased to the point that I can no longer perform a lot of my normal daily activities, and I have to use a cane to walk. Getting up out of a chair is excruciating, and I definitely can't play on the floor with my grandson. I'm now in major pain all day, and it keeps me up at night. All my household chores have fallen way behind. I'm just not able to do anything other than just supervising my boys.

So, that's what's happening to me right now, but this GoFundMe isn't just for me; it's also for my family. My husband and I have 3 wonderful sons. Our oldest son, Sean, is married to a fantastic woman, and they have one son, our grandson, who is the light of our lives. Sean is amazing and helps the family so much. We are very blessed. Our two other boys, Duncan and Graham, are also amazing. They are both on the autism spectrum. Duncan is higher functioning, while Graham is on the other end of the spectrum. Duncan is a chatty, delightful, and creative young man. Even though he requires a lot of supervision and assistance, he's wonderful to be around. Graham is much less verbal, has a funny sense of humor, and is very talented on the piano. He requires constant supervision. I have to give him medication 4 times a day, cook his meals (which are specifically for him), and help and encourage all daily activities, including bathing and complete bathroom assistance. Also, my sweet mother moved in with us shortly after my dad passed away. I help her with doctors, errands, and help around the house. My husband has a good job, and we have pretty good insurance, so we're hoping our out-of-pocket for my surgeries won't be that much. Like most Americans, we live paycheck to paycheck. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will allow him to take time off, it will be unpaid. So, our GoFundMe is to help us stay afloat while I'm recovering and my sweet husband is caring for our boys. Thank you for taking the time to read this. It wasn't an easy decision to create a GoFundMe, but it is necessary.

If you can, please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign. Every little bit helps, and we're grateful for any support you can give. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for helping us get through this difficult time.