Hi everyone,

I’m Stephen, writing this for my mom because—ironically—she can’t really do it herself right now.

What was supposed to be a routine medical situation turned into something a lot more serious. My mom ended up needing multiple surgeries and is now recovering with a tracheostomy. That means she currently can’t really use her voice, which—if you know her—is kind of a big deal. The house is definitely quieter… maybe a little too quiet (don’t worry, we fully expect her to make up for lost time later).

On a real note though, she’s dealing with a lot. Breathing, swallowing, pain, and just the overall frustration of not being able to communicate normally—it’s been tough. If you look at the photos, you’ll see both how strong she is and how much she’s going through right now. Recovery is going to take time.

Because of everything going on, she’s unable to work for at least a few months. My dad has also had to take time off to help take care of her, so we’ve gone from managing things fine to suddenly juggling medical bills, regular expenses, and reduced income all at once.

We’re not usually the kind of family that asks for help, but this situation is bigger than what we can comfortably handle on our own.

If you’re able to help, donations will go toward:

• Medical bills and ongoing care

• Household expenses while income is limited

• Medical supplies and recovery needs

If donating isn’t an option, sharing this would honestly help just as much.

And if nothing else, we’ll take prayers, good thoughts, or even just rooting for my mom to get her voice back soon—because I know she has a lot she’s going to want to say when it returns.

Thank you for reading and for supporting our family during this time.

— Stephen

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