Help Us Rebuild Stability After Years of Loss and Hardship

Dear Friends,

The past five years have been overwhelming, to say the least. I’ve lost my husband, my mom, and other loved ones—all while raising a special needs child who couldn’t thrive in school, caring for a toddler, and battling my own declining health.

Physically, my body has taken a serious hit. After two major back surgeries, I still experience chronic pain that makes even basic tasks—like dishes, laundry, or getting out of the house with the kids—unbearable. Recently, I’ve developed fainting spells, chronic migraines, dizziness, heart-attack-like symptoms, and extreme fatigue. These symptoms align with POTS or autonomic dysfunction (though I haven’t been formally diagnosed yet—we have ruled out heart attacks and strokes). Some days, my body just stops working.

Despite my best efforts, I’ve hit a wall. Everyday life feels impossible, and that is incredibly uncomfortable to admit.

Joel, my amazing husband, works entirely on commission. But every time he has to come home to care for me and the kids, we lose income. We’ve exhausted our friends, family, and local resources. We don’t qualify for financial aid, but we also can’t quite afford the kind of help we truly need—childcare, housework, or meal services—to get through this season.

I’ve tried everything I can think of to keep going: physical therapy, medications, counseling, EMDR therapy, chiropractic care, diet adjustments, and more. Still, these new symptoms and challenges aren’t something I can just “push through.” They require rest (something I’m terrible at).

We’re not just asking for financial help (though it would make a huge difference). We also need resources, ideas, and physical support to help us make it through. Here are some ways you could help:

• Donate if you’re able: Funds will go toward medical bills, childcare, and daily necessities.

• Offer Everyday Help: Assistance with dishes, laundry, cleaning, or cooking—or recommendations for services like meal deliveries or laundry pickup.

• Help with Kid Entertainment: Ideas for projects, games, or spending time with the kids. (Eleanor loves running errands right now, and Isaiah is getting into video games in a big way.)

• Relaxation and Self-Care: Gift certificates for massages, facials, or pedicures—or even taking the kids for a few hours so I can rest and recharge.

• Out-of-the-Box Solutions: Advice, resources, or creative ideas for managing my health and daily life. If you’ve dealt with similar challenges or have tips, I’m open to hearing them.

• Work-from-Home Leads: Suggestions for flexible jobs that can work around my health struggles and unpredictable energy levels.

Why Now?

I’ve pushed through migraines with pain comparable to childbirth, the grief of losing my husband and mom back to back, and being barely able to walk for the first two years of my daughter’s life. But the fainting spells, crashes, and new unpredictability of my health aren’t something I can push through anymore.

We’re not looking for a picture-perfect life—just one where Joel can work without constant interruptions, where I can focus on healing, and where simple, everyday tasks don’t feel impossible.

Thank you for reading, caring, and considering how you might help. Any support, big or small, would mean the world to us.

With love,

Mandy and the Merrell-Bodenbender Gang