Special Needs Family Crisis: Funeral and Robbery

Hello friends and compassionate strangers, I’m reaching out during an incredibly difficult time for my family. We recently lost my dear Uncle Ben, who had special needs as an elder with Down syndrome, to a sudden and unexpected death. My uncle was a precious and kind soul who meant the world to me. 

As we grapple with the grief of his passing, we are also faced with overwhelming financial burdens and urgent needs for the ongoing care of his surviving siblings, all of whom require extensive medical attention.

For years I have been doing everything alone. I do not have any close family here in California, and although this has been extremely overwhelming, I would do anything for my family. 

Our Immediate Needs Funeral Expenses: The cost of laying Uncle Ben to rest is over $3,000. As much as we want to honor his memory properly, we are struggling to cover these costs while managing the care of his surviving siblings.

Bed Bug Fumigation: To my horror, the family home, where my mom and her siblings live, is in dire need of bed bug fumigation due to my Aunt's poor choices. The infestation has made living conditions unbearable, and the estimate for this service is $2,800.

The Bigger Picture - Legal and Medical Challenges: My mom, Lydia, suffers from bipolar disorder, early-stage dementia, and is legally blind. I have already been caring for her expenses on my own for years helping her with all her needs, even when she has been resistant to help. 

My Aunt June has schizophrenia, and my Aunt Betty has Down syndrome.

Managing their care has been a Herculean task, especially given their complex needs and the deteriorating conditions of their home.

A History of Neglect and Abuse: Due to mismanagement and neglect by state appointed guardians after my grandmother passed, the home fell into disrepair. I have endured ongoing battles to ensure I can regain control. 

A reverse mortgage company exploited my Aunt June’s condition, leading to an illegal and unauthorized loan that pushed the home into foreclosure. We were able to postpone the foreclosure a few years ago, but now I am in a legal battle to save the home I grew up in, and trying to build a case against the mortgage company. This is all adding to an already heavy burden. This is something I have worked diligently for years to handle. 

Health and Living Conditions: The house is not only cluttered but also infested with bed bugs, making it unsafe for my family. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to maintain it, but the costs keep piling up due to June's condition. I've invested in new carpeting twice, roof repair, appliances, groceries, but every time things would worsen.

My family’s mental health conditions have also made them resistant to accepting help, adding another layer of complexity to my situation.

My daughter and I Need Your Help With Uncle Ben’s sudden passing, our family is at a breaking point. The combination of funeral expenses, legal battles, and urgent medical care for my mom and aunts has created a financial crisis that we cannot manage alone

I’ve dedicated my life to caring for my family, but right now, we need the community’s support to get through this.

It pain's me to ask for help, but I can no longer do this all on my own. 

How You Can Help

Donate: Any amount, even just a little will help immensely! Your contributions will go directly towards covering funeral costs, fumigation expenses, and ongoing medical care for my mom and aunts. 

Share: Please share our story with your friends, family, and social networks to help us reach as many people as possible.

Support: Your emotional support and prayers mean the world to my daughter and I during this challenging time.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can offer.