Update: As of 8/11/2025 my mom has been told she needs open heart surgery next month, and a procedure to keep her going until her surgery within the next few weeks.

As things have escalated quickly, any and all donations will be allocated to whichever is needed most immediately (copays, testing, etc.). Everything else will have to wait.

A quick, deep, and sincere thank you to everyone who has donated, or reached out to offer their help.

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I’m not someone that likes to publicly announce things that are going on in my life, let alone someone else’s and especially not without their knowledge or permission. As a daughter who has received everything I could ever ask for from my mom, I would like to try and give something back to her, even if it’s something small.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting my mother, you’d know she’s kind, hardworking, generous, self-sacrificing, warm, and gracious. At her retirement ceremony on Bangor staff put out 150 chairs for attendees. We ended up breaking the fire code when over 400 people showed up to support her, share how she impacted their career, and say their goodbyes. She’s a delightful woman and consistently makes an impression on anyone who has ever had a genuine conversation with her.

Without going into too much detail, my mom was diagnosed with a cardiac issue that essentially requires life saving surgery. With how bad the issue is, doctors have determined she’s not a candidate for anesthesia, meaning she requires another procedure in order to make her a candidate for this surgery.

As a retiree, funds are tight, and savings can only stretch so far.

It may sound like I’m asking for funds to help with the surgery, but I’m not. Because of all these health issues and tests, my parents have been without a working bathroom in their home for over a year. All of their funds and savings have been funneled into tests and diagnostics, draining all they have for any house repairs.

When I spoke with my mom on the phone today and asked how she was doing with all of this news she just learned, she cried saying, “I just want a bathroom again.” That killed me. While I wish I could give her the money to cover the procedure, the surgery, and a bathroom, I know I can’t. I’m creating this to ask for help to see if I can improve her quality of life on a daily basis with a bathroom.

Due to water damage and mold, the siding and drywall need repairing. The plumbing is ruined, it needs new surround, and the toilet needs to be replaced as well.

I’m shooting for the moon in asking for as much as I am. I don’t expect to reach this goal by any means, but I believe that quite literally anything will help.

I want to send a preemptive ‘thank you’ for anything you’re willing to give because I know money is tight for everyone right now.