In October, I suffered a heart attack and spent a month and a half in the hospital. During that time, DSS placed my 39-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, in a nursing home. For 21 years, I was his paid caregiver and guardian, and we shared a home together. When he was taken, my job ended, and I expected to bring him home and resume caring for him. Unfortunately, DSS has not allowed me to bring him home, and I have not seen him since this ordeal began. All of our bills are due, and our house—his home as well—is now in jeopardy.

My son is completely defenseless. He cannot walk or talk, and he has no way to let anyone know if something is wrong. The nursing home does not have rails on the bed due to NC law, and he has fallen out of bed numerous times. He cannot use a call bell to ask for help, and he needs 24/7 care, not just periodic checks. He has been found lying in feces because his ostomy bag leaked, and I am not sure if the staff are providing the daily care he needs. He can no longer sit up on his own, and I worry he is losing muscle mass from being bedridden. When I call the home, the staff are unkind and unhelpful, and they refuse to let me or his father visit him. This isolation is traumatizing for him, and it breaks my heart that he was not with me on Christmas Day or his birthday for the first time in 39 years.

Despite everything, my son remains the happiest, sweetest, and most headstrong person I know. He fights bravely when he gets sick and deserves to be surrounded by family who love him. The funds raised will help me catch up on house payments and hire an attorney to fight for his return home, where he can receive the care and attention he needs. Please pray for him and consider supporting us so he can come home soon. Thank you for reading our story. God bless.