Help our beloved Ally

We are the John and Widget Richards family from Marietta, GA.  Because our 37 year old son, Nicholas, who has Down syndrome, was abused in his previous living situation, we had to bring him home.  We moved him into our renovated basement and began hiring caregivers for him.  Soon after Nick coming home, Widget was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.  This is the point in which Ally Thackston came into our lives.  She became one of Nick’s caregivers and brought with her years of experience with special needs folks as a Paraprofessional in a Cobb County Schools middle school.  Her patient and caring support through Nick’s behaviors, included bathing and feeding him, changing his diapers and putting him to bed.  She even came on a vacation with us in order to care for Nick. Beyond her care of Nick, Ally’s warm, understanding support of our family, as we dealt with Widget’s cancer, soon had her become a member of our family.

On the evening of July 13th (2020), after she finished caring for Nick and on her way home, a driver ran a red light and hit Ally’s car head on.  Her son called us letting us know.  Her car was totaled.  Although she survived, her injuries were significant and included a compound fracture to her right leg and broken bones in her right foot and right arm.  She had surgery the next day to insert pins and cast her lower leg, foot and arm.

Unfortunately, two weeks before her accident, Ally’s husband had triple heart by-pass surgery. And in early March, he had lost his job due to the Coranavirus.  So it has been Ally’s Cobb school Parapro income and health insurance that has sustained them.  Her part-time work caring for Nick supplemented her income.  Now, Ally is unable to work for us and a likely possibility that she will not be able to start the school year.

Because Ally is very loved by our family and many other families that she touches, I am asking for your help in supporting her family’s financial needs.  Please search your heart, soul and spirit and give to this Go-Fund-Me page for Ally and her family.  Our family has experienced the Lord’s presence in Ally being part of our lives.  Please be the Lord’s presence in Ally’s life through a contribution.