Help Needed for Trish

On October 24th, while away on a business trip, my sister Trisha got a phone call no mother should have received. Her "bonus" son Angelo had been killed in a motorcycle accident.

Angelo, along with his brothers, came into my sister's life over ten years ago. Not surprisingly, Trisha quickly fell into the caretaker role. After years of supporting Angelo on her own and providing him with a loving home, she was eventually awarded legal guardianship. Angelo was part of our family. Over the years, Trisha worked hard to give him the life he deserved, taking care of his needs, advocating for him in school and the community, and bestowing him with what all children need: guidance and unconditional love. Ang was her little helper, her little buddy.

Sadly, having experienced loss before, it was crucial to Trisha to ensure she would be prepared if she faced tragedy again. She paid for insurance policies for all the kids and assumed she'd be covered financially should the unthinkable ever occur. What happened next is why I seek your support.

After the initial meeting with the funeral home, Trisha was informed that an anonymous donor had offered to pay for the funeral. In our time of intense shock and grief, we were touched by someone's kindness. With Trish's permission, the funeral home began attempting to contact the donor to communicate her acceptance. The funeral arrangements were made, flowers ordered, and a reception planned. After five days without a response from the donor, the funeral home advised Trish that, ultimately, she was financially responsible for their services. As one can imagine, this was shocking news.

Unfortunately, upset occurred again when it was shared with her that the coverage she had was much less than what had been reported to her initially, and the information the insurance company required from her employer was delayed due to "internal miscommunication." Currently, the insurance company has still not committed to a payment. Additionally, Angelo's medical insurance has denied compensation to the hospital for the care he received, and bills are pouring in. Now, Trisha faces the potential of having to seek legal counsel.

As one might imagine, Trisha's pain is insurmountable. She has once grieved for a husband and now for a child. One should not have to face such sorrow twice in a lifetime. Angelo was a sweet soul who was taken way too soon from us. Although we can not heal her broken heart, I hope we can relieve some financial worries and give Trisha time to focus on herself and Angelo's siblings as they recover from this tremendous loss. In her time of need, I ask that you please consider donating and lending a helping hand to someone who is always so willing to lend hers.