Anyone who knows us Audettes (and Roches) knows we’re not ones to ask for help…whether that’s due to strength and independence or just plain stubbornness (tomato, tomahto). But this time, we’re putting that aside for my mom.

For those who don’t know her, she has spent her life caring for others, raising three kids as a single mom, working first as a volunteer EMT while juggling nursing school, then eventually becoming a nurse-of-all-trades at the hospital (trauma, critical care, hospice… you name it, she’s probably done it). For the past 14+ years, she’s worked 12-hour shifts on her feet, showing up day in and day out for people at work and at home.

For more than half her life, she’s quietly dealt with severe joint pain caused by underlying congenital issues that weren’t fully discovered until recently. In 2018, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and, thank god, went into remission after treatment. But the medication prescribed to keep the cancer away had extreme side effects and caused significant bone density loss, making her joint problems exponentially worse.

One thing led to another (and another), and she had a knee replacement just two years ago. Now she’s due for an emergency hip replacement in just a few weeks, with a replacement for her other knee likely to follow in the coming months.

Again those of you who know her won’t be surprised to hear she tried to push through the pain and put these surgeries off as long as possible, but her doctors made it clear this really shouldn’t wait and she thankfully agreed now was the time.

For the past 18 years, she’s been the one holding everything together for our family. With her being out of work (likely for months to come), the financial toll of this recovery is becoming overwhelming and we want to help raise funds to alleviate the stress of covering medical bills and living expenses so she can focus on her own wellbeing and healing.

Any support, whether it’s a donation or simply a share, means the world to us. If you know her, you know how strong and selfless she is. Now we’re asking for help to take care of her, like she’s done for everyone else for so long.

Thank you so incredibly much for any and all support!