Hi, I'm the grandma and soon-to-be adoptive parent to my two grandkids-almost two yrs old and just turned five. Our story is a tough one and we could really use some help.

The kids have been in foster care in Louisiana, in separate homes, for more than 20 months, and I have been fighting for them, by myself, against unthinkable corruption, requiring both state and legislative interference to finally win custody of them in May 2024. I am eligible and plan to formally adopt them in early November 2024.

I cannot at this time say a lot about what I've uncovered, what we've overcome, the straight up illegality and federally punishable activities, or the almost insurmountable, widespread corruption I've faced, but this battle did include every Louisiana stereotype you see in the movies. Horrifically, every foster care stereotype - abuse, neglect, and well beyond the worst you could or want to imagine - was also at play here.

My grandkids really suffered, before agency intervention and after. They both now have special needs and serious medical challenges which, under my care, they are finally receiving services for. One of them, for instance, requires routine trips to New Orleans (a five-ish hour drive each way) for hematological oncology immunotherapy needed as a result of abuse.

My entire savings has been gutted due to the two cross-country moves related to the children, preparing the home for the kids, the cost of fighting for the children, major vehicle repairs, a seriously ill (and I suspect dying) English mastiff service dog, and reduced work ability. Keeping the kids fed has been a challenge; I am afraid to apply for food stamp and other benefits other than WIC due to reasonable fear the agency will use that against me in November during the adoption proceedings.

I'm in chemo (but you bet I'm going to be fine). Breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer ended my firefighter/medical aspirations 14 years ago, but it's not taking anything else I love from me now. It does wreak havoc on the immune systems of my grandchild receiving immunotherapy and my own. Since May when I gained custody, we have all caught a severe rhinovirus 1/2 (requiring breathing treatments and steroids) twice, followed by two separate COVID episodes, which for me was staggering given I was also laboring under chemo illness, and I am caring for (and providing for) all of us by myself.

I have worked remotely as a closed captions editor for almost nine years. However, my earnings are based on work completed, not salary, and there are no benefits. Chemo and the illnesses, as well as caring for two special needs children, alone, dealing with agency interference, and the sheer exhaustion of regular life with kids stuff in addition to their special needs requirements has impacted my ability to work, which I do in the evenings when the kids are asleep. It's exhausting, to be understated about it. I know it will be better once my chemo is done, but what we have gone through to get to this point has completely gutted me financially.

In May, a routine car repair snowballed into several mechanic mistakes, ultimately resulting in destroying my car's air conditioning. We're in Louisiana. The grandchild receiving immunotherapy and I have severe reactions to extreme heat, bad enough to require ER visits. The mechanic essentially ruined my vehicle, and it will take suing him to fix that situation.

EDITED TO UPDATE: My car began overheating to an engine-warping heat on easy, 10-minute drives two days ago. The cause is as of yet undetermined.

The children both require many weekly visits with different specialists, most of whom are more than an hour from our home. It is almost a full-time job in itself to manage these much needed appointments, from scheduling them to attending them. It is very time consuming, difficult, and exhausting, especially given the long drives in the heat and trying to work around when I'll be least ill from chemo.

Then there are various agency appointments and court hearings, and preparing documentation, and then all the stuff of life in raising little kids by yourself, all of it a struggle because of the chemo illness. (I'm currently undergoing four different chemo drugs.) Some of the challenges the kids are facing are quite serious.

I love them beyond reason, and I will never stop fighting on their behalf, being present for them, and dedicating my life to growing them into happy, stable, decent people. So I am not complaining. But I am realistic. I need help.

My English mastiff service dog began having seizures this past Christmas, and is suffering kidney damage. She recently has begun refusing to eat. Her medication is $160 a week, and she is not well. Her vet has a surgery I now cannot afford as I have spent thousands and simply don't have the resources at this time. This is killing me because she deserves better. We have been together for more than four years and she changed my life.

EDITED TO UPDATE: I'm devastated to share that Franny, my English mastiff service dog, died this past Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

I'm not looking for help to waste on anything for myself. We desperately need an air conditioned vehicle, and one big enough to transport two kids, an English mastiff service dog, a stroller, bags, etc. The times we have relied on Medicaid vans for some of these appointments, we are always late, the vans have broken down, the vans themselves don't have air conditioning, and sometimes don't even show up. I drive hundreds of miles every week for all our visits, and on New Orleans appointments, that's over 500 miles for one visit (a 24-hour day of transportation and treatment). Public transportation is non-existent, at least in our area of Louisiana.

I do not get any cancer-related charity assistance. I am attempting to obtain assistance.

Of course there are things the children need, as they had outgrown every item of clothing that came with them from their former foster care providers. There are trauma-related services not covered by their insurance I suspect may be helpful. Our lease is ending soon and I would very much like them to move to an affordable SFH instead of where we currently reside, as the noise, crime, and pot-smoking is not the most ideal childhood setting I'd like for them. I can afford the rent, but the cost of moving (because I am completely alone, not from this state, and have no one to ask for help) is prohibitive. I would like to help my dog. I would like a little breathing room financially again, as it is terrifying to unexpectedly be at a check to check place in life at this stage and worrying about meals.

I am creative, resourceful, and I sacrifice. I don't splurge. This isn't for iPads and frivolous things. This isn't about me; it's about them. It will get better as I get better. There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to do it all right now, although I am trying with everything I have. The help is needed right now.