Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to share my mom’s story and ask for your support in helping her regain some independence. She has always been a kind hearted, creative, and adaptable woman, overcoming countless challenges while continuing to find ways to push through and give to others. But right now, she needs help.

My mom's passion in life was dance. For 20 years, she was a ballroom and country dance instructor—sharing her love of dance with hundreds of students and competitors. Despite living with multiple complex medical conditions, including Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and Sjogren's Syndrome, she always found joy and purpose through movement and creativity.

When she had to leave dancing behind in 2016, after an accident and a series of mini-strokes, she poured her passion into photography, graphic design, and art, turning hardship into inspiration.

In June 2024, everything changed again. As she was walking down the stairs from her back door, her legs went numb without warning—a frightening symptom she’s dealt with the past few years. This time, it caused a devastating fall. Her ankle dislocated in two places, and she fractured her leg in 27 spots across four bones.

After extensive surgery involving pins, screws, and plates, her recovery has been slow and painful due to her underlying conditions. Despite months of physical therapy and care, her leg numbness continues to come and go without warning, making her a significant fall risk. Her doctors are still working to find the cause, but for now, they’ve recommended she remain in a wheelchair to protect her from further injury.

Since June, my mom has been using a rental wheelchair, but due to her hEDS, she needs a lightweight, properly fitted wheelchair with power-assist functionality to prevent additional injuries and help her regain some independence. Unfortunately, Medicare won’t cover the power-assist feature, and she still has to pay 20% of the total cost.

The total cost of the power-assist is $8,000. We are hoping to raise $10,000 to cover the chair and provide a cushion for ongoing medical expenses while she continues her recovery and is unable to work.

My mom is someone who never likes to ask for help. She's worried about judgment because she may still be able to stand or walk short distances, but that doesn’t change the very real need for a wheelchair to protect her from further injury and give her back her independence.

She’s always been the one lifting others up—now she needs a little help to keep moving forward.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a huge difference in helping my mom reclaim her freedom. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read her story, for your kindness, and for helping us help her during this challenging time.

Respectfully

Her Eldest Minion Zach

** We just got word that her chair is covered so now we just have to focus on the power assist device!! We've lowered our fundraising goal to account for this happy development. **

*** We received two private, generous outside donations so we are one step closer to reaching our total and able to lower our donation goal!! ***

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Update: Preparing for Another Surgery and a Long Recovery Ahead

Hi everyone,

We wanted to share a difficult update about my mom’s health and what's coming up for her shortly. After months of dealing with constant pain and complications in her leg, we’ve learned that her ankle didn’t heal properly after her original surgery. As a result, she now needs another major surgery.

On April 25th, she will undergo a procedure where her doctors will re-break her leg in two places, repair ligaments and tendons, and attempt to reset her ankle, which remains dislocated in two areas due to bones fusing incorrectly.

Following the surgery, she’ll be bed-bound and non-weight bearing for 3–4 months, and then she’ll begin another long, challenging road through physical therapy.

We’ve also received the news that she will most likely be a permanent wheelchair user, though her doctor is hopeful she may regain the ability to walk short distances in the future if this next surgery goes better than the last. Of course, my mom’s goal is to dance again someday, even if it’s just a little—because dancing has always been her passion.

Unfortunately, her health challenges don’t stop there. She’s now experiencing significant issues with her hands from pushing herself in the manual wheelchair. Her doctors are concerned that the repeated dislocations and subluxations—complications of her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—have caused nerve damage and joint instability in multiple fingers and wrists. She is undergoing imaging and nerve studies now, but surgery may be on the horizon for her hands as well.

As we prepare for the next phase of her recovery, we’re doing our best to plan. Based on her last surgery, we know she’ll be unable to do much of anything for a while—not even basic tasks like preparing meals or safely moving around the house.

Our household is now down one income and one caregiver since Chris moved to Virginia, so I’ve taken on extra hours to help keep things going. We are also looking into hiring a part-time in-home aide to check in on her during the day in those critical first few weeks—just someone to make sure she’s safe, supported, and not pushing herself too hard (which, if you know my mom, is always a concern).

Amidst all of this, there’s been a bright moment: she recently had her first solo art show! We’re still waiting on final numbers from the sales and are working on posting her remaining pieces and vintage items online to continue generating some income.

We are so grateful for everyone who has donated, shared, or simply sent kind words. You’ve made a huge difference in her life already, and we hope you’ll continue to stand by us through this next chapter.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting her journey.

With a ton of gratitude,

Zach