My name is Rick, and I’m raising funds for my daughter, Kate, and her two children, Jack (9) and Ruby (6), after the sudden loss of Kate’s husband and the children’s father, Michael, who passed away the day after Thanksgiving.
Kate is now doing what no one should have to do all at once: working through the profound impact of a family with no father, single parenting two heartbroken young children, and trying to keep their world from falling apart. Jack and Ruby are processing a loss far bigger than they have words for, and Kate is working tirelessly to make sure they still feel safe—getting them to school, holding routines together, comforting them through the hard moments, and trying to be both “mom and dad” overnight.
Sustaining the family with a livable income is another matter. Kate's financial problems are overwhelmingly and deeply complicated: a protracted probate process and a mountain of debt that Michael left behind. The details are complex and the immediate reality is clear—Kate needs experienced legal help to protect herself and her children and to navigate this process correctly. This isn’t a situation that can be handled with a few phone calls. It involves: filings, deadlines, claims, and mediation; all difficult decisions that require professional guidance. The cost is way beyond what she can carry.
Kate is now working full-time as a single mom, while grieving and trying to hold her children together emotionally. The weight of this—legal, financial, and personal—is immense, and she cannot do it alone.
We are asking for help to cover two urgent needs:
1) Legal expenses to navigate probate and the debts/claims to effect a proper resolution, including:
- attorney fees and court filings
- professional guidance to manage creditor claims and protect the family’s stability
2) Mental health support for Jack and Ruby (and support for Kate), including:
- grief counseling/therapy for the children
- any recommended evaluations and ongoing care
- counseling support for Kate as she parents through trauma and loss
Kate is a devoted mother. She is doing everything she can to keep Jack and Ruby safe, supported, and stable—but this is a long road, and she needs help to keep moving forward.
If you’re able to donate, we are deeply grateful. If you can’t, please consider sharing this fundraiser—sharing is a powerful way to help. Thank you for surrounding Kate, Jack, and Ruby with love during the hardest chapter of their lives.
With gratitude,
Rick & Debbie
Organizer and beneficiary
Kate Welch
Beneficiary