In September of 2020, my mom, Kim Brown, went to the doctor for knee pain; she has had severe swelling and pain from her knee all the way to her ankle. Over months of expensive testing and doctor's visits, this January we have finally figured out that she has a torn meniscus and will need surgery.  The meniscus is the knee cartilage that cushions the shinbone from the thighbone. This has made it very hard for her to walk, and she wakes up several times throughout the night in excruciating pain that she has dealt with for months now.  She needs this surgery as soon as possible because the pain is becoming unbearable, but it is a pretty expensive surgery, with the low-end cost being about $5,000, but it will likely cost much more than that. 

Kim has lived in Valley Mills for over 30 years, working in many local stores; currently Dollar General. She will have to take off of work for a few weeks afterward to recover, during which time we will have little to no income. Kim takes care of her disabled husband who cannot walk, and her recovery will make his care harder as well. She will also not be able to drive for a while, and she is the only one in the household that currently can. I know Kim is a beloved member of the Valley Mills community, and any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated by her and her family.  Thank you in advance.