My name is Alecia. Last week, I almost lost my mother, Valerie Kipping, to a brain aneurysm that had gone undetected by medical professionals for far too long. After months of struggling with migraines and seeking help from various providers, she made the life-saving decision to go to the ER at Tampa General Hospital last Monday. There, doctors discovered an unstable brain aneurysm. By Tuesday morning, it had ruptured—prompting an emergency surgery that saved her life.

We thank God she was already in the care of Tampa General’s incredible Neuroscience ICU team when the rupture occurred. We thank God the surgery went, in the words of her neurosurgeons, “as well as it possibly could have.” And we thank God Valerie trusted her intuition and went to the hospital instead of leaving on a planned beach trip that might have ended in tragedy.

But her fight is far from over.

Anyone who knows Valerie knows she’s a fighter and a giver. As a self-employed cosmetologist, she’s spent a lifetime perfecting her craft, building a loyal following, and rescuing countless people from the brink of boxed dye disasters. But being self-employed means having no paid time off, no employer-covered medical benefits—and no financial safety net.

Due to the physically demanding, detail-oriented nature of her work, it may be months before she can return full-time. We are humbly asking our friends, family, and extended community for support to help cover the cost of Valerie’s emergency care, ongoing treatments, and basic living expenses as she begins her long recovery.

Valerie is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back without hesitation. We’re not asking you to do the same—just to give what you can, if you can. Every little bit truly helps.

To those who have already reached out, sent supplies, offered prayers, or simply sat beside her in the hospital—thank you. The love you’ve shown during her most vulnerable moments has been deeply moving. It’s the kind of love that reminds us what really matters.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. If you’re not in a position to donate, sharing this campaign is just as meaningful. From the bottom of our hearts, we are endlessly grateful.