My mother-in-law, Leslie Carrel, passed away early in the morning on November 2, 2025, after bravely battling kidney and liver failure. Our hearts are broken. She was such a loving mom to Ryan and an amazing grandma to our two kids. We want to be together in California to honor her life and be with family when the time comes for a memorial.

Leslie truly had the biggest heart. She never missed a birthday or holiday and always made sure to call and check on us. She loved to spoil her grandkids with gifts and made sure they always knew how special they were to her.

We live in Virginia, and the last time we were able to travel back home to California as a family was for my own mom's service in Jan of 2022. Traveling across the country is a big expense especially as a one-income four-person household, but it's so important to us to be there for Leslie's service and to support Ryan and his family.

We've set our goal at $3,000 to help cover the essential costs of this trip, including four round-trip plane tickets, lodging, and local transportation while we're in California for Leslie's service. With the high cost of last-minute travel and the holidays approaching, reaching this goal will make it possible for us to be with loved ones and honor Leslie's memory. Every donation, no matter the size, will directly help us make this trip and means more than we can ever express.

Thank you for your love, support, and kindness during this heartbreaking time. Even a small donation or a simple share helps us more than you know.