Cole and Caleb Update!!

My name is Michelle LaRue and here is our story: In the midst of this pandemic my friend, Natasha Israel, was recently admitted to Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA and diagnosed with terminal liver failure. She passed away peacefully at the age of 41 on August 19, 2020.   Natasha's two children, Caleb (age 19) and Cole (age 17) have special needs and her extended family can not care for them at this time.  These children were especially close with their mom and were completely dependent on her for their well-being.
Near the end of her illness, the children and their sweet dog, Olive, came to stay with me in my home and I am now, with the blessing of their family,  petitioning for permanent guardianship.

 I am seeking support from my friends, colleagues, and community to help raise funds to meet the children's needs during this very difficult time.  I would not be who I am today without all of the ways other people have touched my life and I am asking you all now to help me give these boys the best possible future.  The monies will go toward funeral expenses ($6,642.25),  final resting place ($2400), attorney fees for guardianship (initially $2,000 per child plus filing fees), food, clothing, and moving expenses for the boys, and vet care for Olive. 
Yes, I am asking for financial support, but I know these are difficult times so I am also asking for your special gifts, talents, passions and connections that could help these kids.  We have a particular need in the areas of autism programs/post-secondary education counseling/resources.  
Think outside the box; do you live on a farm we could visit, do you have an awesome career or workplace that we could expose them to, are you an artist that could give them an afternoon of creativity in your studio,  do you build computers or work with animals or in nature.   Like many teens, they love their PS4 but they also enjoy nature and their mom instilled in them her passion for recycling and protecting our environment.   Caleb enjoys drawing and wants to learn gaming design while Cole takes pride in the computer that he has built himself and has been told he is a natural on guitar when he tried lessons some years ago. 

I want to give them a home where they can feel grounded, safe, encouraged and loved but we are also becoming a part of how they experience family and I want you to see yourself as part of that circle that will carry them through this time of grieving into a time of thriving. 

I sincerely appreciate ANY support you can give.

With Gratitude, 

Michelle LaRue