I’ve known Laura for forever…. going back to our high school days (30 years ago). I’ve watched this last year as she struggled to care for both of her parents. When I would bring her meals and essentials, we would try to chat and catch up quickly. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know very many people who would be willing to do what she’s doing right now. 

The Lam Family had a GoFundMe set up for them last March by another dear friend (which was a tremendous help)! Those funds were instrumental in helping the family pay for ER/overnight hospital stay co-pays, ambulance co-pays (can you believe was $350?!), hospital bed/bedside commode/wheelchair/equipment co-pays. Both Laura’s parents have been in the ER for a total of 8 times in 2021 (her mom 6 times). It’s been a very challenging year for their family.

Her dad was in a serious car accident in December and fractured his c3, c4, shoulder, 3 ribs, and sustained a hematoma in his left leg. His car was totaled. The police officer at the scene of the car accident said he was lucky to be alive. 

Laura’s mom suffered her first fall last Feb (brain bleed, fractured clavicle) and has had 5 falls, 3 of them major, since then. The last fall occurred in June under the watch of a caregiver and required 10 stitches on her forehead. Insurance would only approve 4 physical therapy sessions in May and after much advocating from Laura, they finally approved another 4 physical therapy sessions in Oct (too little too late as Mrs Lam started to decline and could no longer use the walker). Mrs Lam is now under hospice (palliative) care. She cannot even stand with assistance, and she is no longer mobile. Every day has been up and down with her health, and it has been very stressful for Laura and her dad, the only 2 caregivers for Mrs Lam right now. They do have a hospice aide who comes 3x/week for about 30 - 45 minutes which insurance pays for, but insurance does not pay for private caregivers. 

Laura felt awkward about having a new GFM set up for their family because she hates asking for help and doesn’t want a handout. Another friend/fellow entrepreneur suggested that maybe she could offer her marketing & writing/editing/proofreading skills in exchange for donations (she has a strong skillset in marketing/writing/editing). So that’s what she’s going to do. If you feel led to donate and you also need help with marketing ideas, writing, editing, please reach out to Laura to discuss. 

The Lam family’s greatest need right now is for a caregiver for Laura’s mom and a caregiver for her dad. Mrs Lam is no longer mobile and is now also incontinent with increasing pain in her body from osteoarthritis. She requires more care than before, and caregiving is not covered under hospice either. Laura takes care of Mrs Lam 24/7. She now needs a caregiver for her dad too, to take him to follow up dr appointments post-car accident and to get him out of the house occasionally to try to preserve his mental health. His mental health has been greatly affected having to help Laura care for his wife this past year in addition to his own declining health. 

Thank you for the continued love, prayers, and support for this precious family. If you know Laura, you know that she loves to help others in need, especially when there is a great need like after hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and many of her friends and neighbors flooded. Laura was very active advocating to fill their needs and collected donations from all over the nation to help flooded families. Laura was also active in Intellihelp at the beginning of 2020 advocating to help get meals/groceries to families in need due to lost jobs and quarantine. You can be sure she will continue her philanthropic endeavors once she can get back on her feet again.