My name is Thea, and I’m fundraising for my mother, who has been overwhelmed by back-to-back tragedies and financial hardship.

Last year around this time, my father passed away suddenly. His death left a deep hole in our family. He helped my mom with rent every month, and after he passed, we lost that support overnight. After our father’s passing, funds he intended for our family are being withheld by relatives abroad. Because of international legal barriers, we are unable to access what was left to us. This has placed significant financial strain on our household, and we are asking for support while we navigate this situation.

My grandmother, who also lived with us, became critically ill soon after. I had stepped in to help with bills, groceries, and caregiving while balancing school and work.

This week, my grandmother has passed away. This means my mom is entirely on her own to raise my 9-year-old autistic sister while working, despite serious health issues of her own.

Why We Need Help:

My mom has been doing everything she can to keep us afloat, but one crisis after another has pushed us into a financial hole. For more context…

Our food stamps and rent assistance were cut off last month

My sister’s disability benefits were denied due to a misunderstanding about her having land assets in Bangladesh. To correct this, my mom needs to travel to Bangladesh to gather documentation and proof, something she cannot afford right now.

My mom is paying off my father’s credit card debt and medical bills for her own relatives abroad, all while living paycheck to paycheck.

She has a recurring tumor, arthritis, mental health struggles from enduring long periods of abuse, and undiagnosed neurological issues that affect her ability to work.

With my grandmother gone, I’ll need to take on more childcare responsibilities for my sister, while also juggling my part-time job, college classes, an internship, and a research program.

We are trying our best. But we are at the point where rent, groceries, transportation, and emergency childcare are becoming unstable. I am picking up as many hours as I can, but it’s not enough to fill the gap left by two major family losses and the benefits we unexpectedly lost.

What Your Support Will Cover:

100% of funds will go toward…

Rent & utilities

Groceries and basic household needs

Care for my younger sister

Transportation for medical appointments & school

Emergency babysitting when my mom and I are working

Assistance with medical debt and documentation fees

Saving for my mom’s necessary trip to Bangladesh to correct the disability benefits paperwork for my sister

Anything helps, even sharing this link. My mom has spent her whole life supporting everyone around her. I just want her to be able to stay strong and get some support through this incredibly difficult time.

Thank you, truly, for reading and for caring.