My name is Jacqui and my mom, Ruthie, has been my hero for as long as I can remember. She’s always been so strong, independent, and full of life. I wrote about her for school papers every year when we were asked to write about the person we admired or looked up to the most, and while I’m sure my Belmont School teachers got sick of reading about her year after year, it was all absolutely true.

When I was 16, I watched my mom handle the loss of her mother with dignity and grace, and at 19, I watched her kick stage 3 breast cancer’s ass with that same dignity and grace. At 21, she fell into a coma for a month and a half, and I thought that we were really going to lose her then, but my mom was a fighter, as strong as they come. My family’s rock.

Two days ago, my family and I watched as she finally gave up all the fight she had left in her, and as helpless and devastated as we all felt/feel, we were afforded some comfort in knowing that she would finally be at peace as we made the decision to remove her from the ventilator that had been keeping her alive for the last week and watched her take her final breaths a few hours later.

The next day, as I went to begin making arrangements for her final wishes to be carried out, I was informed that her insurance policy only covers accidental death, and since she died of illness, they wouldn’t be honoring the face value of her policy. My family and I are unfortunately unable to pay out of pocket for all of the medical expenses and her last wishes, and naturally, since we were under the impression that we had her life insurance to depend on, we didn’t have anything set aside for this unexpected, traumatizing event.

Despite hating having to ask for help, especially in the form of money, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for my family. That being said, it is with a heavy heart that I humbly ask you to please donate anything that you are willing and able to, and if you aren’t able to donate, please keep the remainder of my family (Charlie & Cassandra) in your hearts and prayers.

Thank you for hearing me out and for helping if you can. ♥️