Update: On Christmas Day, my mom entered God’s Kingdom. While we miss her deeply, we are holding onto the peace that comes from knowing she is free from pain, healed, and resting in His presence. What a blessing it is to know she entered heaven on the very day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We will continue to leave this GoFundMe open for the time being to help with end of life expenses and to insure Richard and Grandkids are in a comfortable spot as it pertains to bills and essentials.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ve rewritten this a dozen times trying to find the right words… and the truth is, I never imagined I’d have to write something like this. Having my mother transition to in-home hospice wasn’t something I ever thought I’d have to worry about.

Coming to terms with the fact that life can be much shorter than we expect has been the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. And sometimes, even the strongest families need help to make it through moments like this.

It isn’t easy to ask — but I’m doing it for my mom, my dad, my siblings, and for the kids who depend on them every day.

Meet Kristy

Kristy Becker-Nielson is known for having a heart bigger than the world. She has always lived a life of service — putting others first and making sure people felt loved, safe, and supported.

Kristy is a devoted mother to four children: Jeff, Kayla, Kyle, and Kodee.

And in 2020, when four grandchildren needed a stable and loving home, Kristy and her husband Richard stepped up without hesitation, becoming guardians to:

• Sam — 18 years old

• Haylie — 17 years old

• Jayden — 11 years old

• James — 6 years old

To them, she is “Grandma,” and to her grandson Jack she is “Nana.”

She is the steady foundation of their lives. (the glue that holds the family together)

If you know Kristy, you’ve been loved deeply. She is always one to give the shirt off her own back to help someone else.

Her Fight with Cancer

In November 2023, Kristy was diagnosed with lung cancer. She fought hard through chemotherapy and radiation — even when her body pushed back with complications from immunotherapy. She stayed hopeful and strong.

In December 2024, the cancer spread to her brain. She battled it head-on once again and bravely endured two brain surgeries and three forms of radiation.

Over the past couple months, her health took a rapid turn. What was believed to be a stubborn illness caused repeated urgent care visits and eventually an ambulance ride to the ER after she fainted. With worsening fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and motor function changes on her left side, doctors admitted her for further testing.

We then learned the cancer has now spread into her skull, causing new and painful complications — neurological decline, fainting, and cognitive challenges. She now requires full-time care.

The hospital stay helped stabilize her symptoms enough to honor her wish: to come home for hospice care. The hospice team has been wonderful and is doing everything they can to keep her comfortable. Some moments bring peace… others are much harder. But every moment together matters.

Kristy said it best:

“I gave it my all, and I’ve never stopped fighting.”

A Family Carrying More Than Anyone Should

Kristy has always been the one holding everything together.

Now, Richard is doing everything he can — caregiving, managing the home, and caring for four children — while watching the love of his life decline before his eyes.

The financial strain is heavier than we understood. As Kristy’s condition worsened, bills became harder to manage, and some were missed. With Richard’s work paused for the winter and her SSDI support possibly ending, the family is facing mounting challenges and overdue expenses that they simply cannot overcome alone.

No one should have to worry about losing their home or providing basic needs while they are saying goodbye to their wife, their mother, their rock.

How Your Support Will Help

Your generosity will allow our family to:

✔ Keep the home stable and safe

✔ Bring any missed bills current and prevent future hardship

✔ Support Richard as he steps fully into parenting and caregiving alone

✔ Ensure transportation, clothing & basic needs for the children

✔ Help with upcoming end-of-life expenses

✔ Give us the gift of time and memories while we still can

Our starting goal of $10,000 will help the family through this incredibly difficult transition and protect the life and home Kristy and Richard worked so hard to build.

Thank You

Every donation. Every prayer. Every share.

It all makes a difference.

Thank you for helping honor Kristy’s legacy — by lifting up the family she poured her entire heart into.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.