Hello friends, family, and compassionate strangers,
If you saw the tiktok video(s) I posted that went viral you would know that for the past several months, my life has shifted to become the full-time, unpaid caregiver for my wonderful mother, who is bravely navigating dementia. This is a calling I embrace, but it has meant stepping away from my regular income to ensure she has the safe, consistent care she needs.
We are actively working through the process to get her approved for Medicaid, which will eventually allow me to receive a caregiver stipend. However, the application process is slow, and in the meantime, our savings have been entirely dedicated to covering immediate living and care expenses. We have been trying to tread water, waiting for that financial lifeline.
Just as we were managing this transition, two devastating and unexpected events hit us back-to-back:
- At the beginning of october, our essential family vehicle was hit and totaled right in front of our house while it was legally parked and unattended. This car was our only means of reliably transporting my mother to appointments and running the necessary errands for our household. Replacing it is an immediate, non-negotiable expense we simply cannot cover right now. We have fought with the insurance company the last few weeks, to no avail. Even though their insured was completely at fault, they offered us only half of our car's estimated value (about $2,000) and unless we pursue the insured on our own time in a court of law, there's nothing further they can do. The damage to the car was cosmetic, meaning the car runs and drives just fine, but they gave it a salvage title so we can't even get it back because it's no longer street legal. We have been paying out of pocket a little over $300 a week for the rental car that they're no longer paying for, just so that my fiance can go to work and I can take my mom to appointments, etc.
To make matters worse, our beloved cat Roast Beef, recently suffered a sudden medical emergency requiring an immediate trip to the animal hospital. He was sent home with pain meds, antibiotics, and subcutaneous fluids until I could get him into a vet closer to my home. (We live in a small town with no emergency vet options). He had a follow up with the vet, where they could find no obvious signs of infection, however they believe he has something going on in his mouth that will require dental X-rays with anesthesia. We were quoted anywhere between $500-$1,000 just for the exam, not any procedure resulting from it.
When we went to the emergency vet we took out a Care Credit card and now that's pretty much maxed out. We are now facing significant veterinary bills on top of everything else.
I feel like I am drowning. I am missing the last moments I have where my mother even knows who I am, because I have to focus on all of these other things that are pulling me under. I can't do it alone. I need help.
Where We Need Your Support:
To get us to a place where we can finally just breathe, we are asking for $10,000 total.
$3,000 for vet bills (to pay off care credit card at $1,300. To cover the cost of the dental X-rays and exam fee at $901 and the rest for any procedure that may come from the results of the dental x-rays)
$4,000 for a new car (This will be added to the $2,900 settlement from the insurance, allowing us to find reliable and safe means of transportation)
And the remaining
$3,000 for various living expenses (will cover credit card bills, overdue bills, rent for a month, groceries, gas, and any medication costs)
This perfect storm of caregiving demands, bureaucratic delays, and sudden disasters has completely drained our reserves. The funds raised here will be used immediately to address these critical, urgent needs:
Replacing Our Transportation: Getting a reliable, safe vehicle is paramount for Mom's ongoing care.
Covering Immediate Medical & Veterinary Bills: Addressing the outstanding costs from our cat's emergency care.
Providing a small cushion for essential groceries and utilities while we wait for the Medicaid process to finalize.
Every share, every donation, no matter the size, offers immense relief during this period of intense strain. It allows me to focus my energy on Mom's care and navigate these crises without the paralyzing fear of not being able to get to appointments, get groceries or facing unmanageable debt.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering our situation. We are fighting to stay afloat, and your support means the world to us.
Sincerely,
Livy, Ruth, Cliff and Roast Beef.
Organizer
Livy Bradford
Organizer
The Dalles, OR