Our sweet Marta needs our help. A recent domestic violence situation has resulted in an immediate need for financial help. Every dollar, and every share, helps to allow her and her children to keep the only home the kids have ever known.

 

 

 

Background: Marta has long been the primary breadwinner and caretaker for her family: her husband; their tween daughter; and their son who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and physical disabilities. Over the last 2 years, with the excellent care team at the Mayo Clinic, Marta was diagnosed with a brain tumor, vitiligo (an auto-immune disease), and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful auto-inflammatory condition, for which there is no cure. The HS attacked her lymph nodes, joints, and spinal column; became progressively debilitating; and resulted in the loss of her job.  For context, 85% of people with HS are permanently disabled.

 

When her unemployment benefits ran out in May 2021, she asked her husband to find employment while she focused on her and the children’s health needs. In short, he refused and within a month they mutually decided to end the marriage.

 

Unfortunately, the day after he moved out, her husband slipped into the house while Marta was sleeping; woke her; and said he intended to end his life. She tried to talk him down for over an hour, but he was undeterred. She tried to secretly text for help, but he discovered her. That is when he loaded and cocked his rifle behind her back and told her that if she didn't let him follow through with his plan the way he wanted to, he was going to do it the "messy way".

 

Thankfully, the police arrived and she ran out the front door to the waiting officers. The resulting standoff between her husband and the police lasted 6 1/2 hours with snipers stationed in neighboring yards and caused evacuation of a neighborhood daycare, and a “code red" active shooter alert for a 3 block radius. (I've attached some photos from the scene to give you an idea of the gravity of the situation.)

 

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, the children were visiting Marta's mom in OK. Their two-week vacation with grandparents became a month-long stay while Marta secured the support of friends, a domestic violence advocate, and an order of protection for herself and the kids. They finally returned home in July.

 

In the aftermath of all these events, Marta has exhausted her savings. She has not received monetary support from her soon-to-be ex-husband (who still refuses to work). The stigma of the standoff forced the children to transfer to a new school district, where they are thriving, but it is a significant distance to and from school each day. In addition to her existing medical issues, Marta is now suffering from PTSD from the events in June. She is not able to pay her mortgage, needs a reliable car (her husband tampered with their only family vehicle during the standoff), and is trying to keep her children in their home as long as possible to minimize the transitions and changes for her son.

We're starting a GoFundMe to show love to this woman, our friend, who shows so much love for others. The purpose is to allow their family to keep their home, remain in their new schools, and cover therapy and medical expenses, until Marta is well enough to return to work.