Dear friends and family,

Our dear friend Colleen lost her mother, Son Ae Cho, after a long battle with chronic illness and countless hospital stays. Born just South of the North Korean Border, she was born in cold, destitute Paju, South Korea, and was the fifth of eight children. The necessity to migrate and make a living in the cities separated Son Ae from her family, and after having her first child, Jason, she settled in the US and had two other children, including Colleen.

Son Ae’s life was a difficult one. Her son Jason was diagnosed early with an incurable psychiatric disorder, and she ultimately sacrificed her beloved restaurant in Koreatown to become the primary caretaker for Jason. Despite his intense episodes, Son Ae only saw the best in Jason, using her love to reframe his symptoms into strengths. In her final years, Son Ae endured immense suffering due to her own battles with chronic physical and mental illness.

As many Korean mothers do, Son Ae sacrificed her body, mind, and spirit to give to her family, putting them first at the final cost of her life. Witnessing this, Colleen took over as her mother’s caregiver, navigating a broken healthcare system and making heartbreaking decisions about her mother’s final steps of care. Due to the advanced state of Son Ae’s conditions, Colleen ultimately chose comfort care for her mother, and she passed on peacefully in her sleep on August 31, 2025. Son Ae was clean, safe, and pain free, which is all Colleen and her family wished at the end.

One of the deepest sorrows of Son Ae’s life was losing contact with her family in South Korea. Old letters with return addresses were lost, and decades passed without correspondence or reunion. In her final week of life, Son Ae called out to her family, stating her love, apologies, and wishes to reunite with them again. Now, Colleen strives to locate and reconnect with her maternal family to notify them of her mom’s passing, as well as rebuild family ties that her mother always longed for.

Additionally, Colleen is searching for her brother, Jason, who was taken in June 2025 due to having a mental health episode while Son Ae was in the hospital, and is now missing within the psychiatric placement complex–authorities are unwilling to disclose Jason’s location and he is not aware his mother has passed away. Son Ae asked Colleen to find Jason, and, “Take him shopping, and to eat something good.” These were Son Ae’s favorite things to do with Jason when she was able bodied, and Colleen is determined to fulfill her mother’s last wish.

As Colleen and her family grieve, they also face overwhelming financial burdens with the loss of Son Ae. We are asking for your support on Colleen’s behalf. Donations will go directly toward:

Any contribution would mean the world to Colleen and her family. If you cannot give, please consider sharing this page to help spread the word.

With gratitude,

Nicole (on behalf of Colleen)