Help RN Single Mom and Kids Survive Long COVID

I’m Katie, and I’m raising money for my dear chosen sister, my friend of 21 years, Sara.

Sara is a recently disabled single mom of two kids, a tween and a preschooler. Sara put herself through nursing school, and has been a talented and respected nurse for 15 years. She had her first child solo, then began the journey of foster parenthood. Since then, she’s fostered children of all ages, from infants to teens. A few years ago, she also adopted her younger child, who’s been with her since he was a year old, and is autistic. Being a mother was a lifelong dream for Sara, and her children are her world. She does everything to make sure they have a safe and nurturing home where they can grow and thrive.

Over the last two years, Sara has become increasingly disabled, going from being a physically strong and active person to being bed-bound most days with serious respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms, cognitive deficits and crushing fatigue. Sara was recently diagnosed with a severe case of long COVID. She is relying heavily on family support to help her care for her children. She is unable to complete basic daily tasks most days.

Having worked and supported herself since she was a teen, Sara is no longer able to work. Unfortunately, after she exhausted her medical leave, her employer refused to honor an accommodation for part-time work, and suggested she access her long term disability benefit. After months of deliberation, the disability insurance company denied her claim. Sara started working with a lawyer to pursue an appeal and start her application process for federal disability benefits. Getting federal disability benefits will be a long and uphill battle, taking years, if she is able to get them at all. In the meantime, she has zero income.

With no income, Sara is in danger of losing her home. Sara’s home has always been a haven to those she loves, and she’s taken many of us in over the years. She is far behind on utility payments, and services are in danger of being shut off soon. She lives rurally and cannot afford to lose her car, but she will be unable to make her payments very soon.

In this country where there is no true social safety net, mutual aid is all we can truly depend on. Sara has never let me down. There is no way on this earth that I will let Sara and her family fall through the cracks. Any amount helps, and it adds up! $18,000 would allow us to pay Sara’s mortgage for a year. Please donate and share with as many people as you can.