On April 26th, our family suffered the heartbreaking loss of our heart and soul. Barbara H. Vecchio passed away in hospice after a courageous battle with lung and heart disease. To many, she was a friend, aunt, or sister, but to me, she was my mother, my business partner, and my biggest cheerleader. Barbara spent her life encouraging my passion for animals and did everything she could to help me build my dream of working with snakes. I am deeply grateful she was able to see those efforts begin to bloom before she left us.

Now, our small family faces an incredibly difficult reality. Most of us are on fixed, limited incomes, and we are struggling to cover the basic costs of saying goodbye. We are reaching out for help to provide Mom with the simple dignity she requested: a beautiful urn and a small, private memorial service at home with flowers, candles, and food. Beyond the final arrangements, I am now navigating the care of our animals without her help. The costs of food, bedding, and electricity to keep the animals safe and warm add up quickly. My goal is to keep things stable until I can safely find new homes for about half of my collection—a necessary step to make the workload manageable on my own.

Asking for help like this so publicly is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I am putting my pride aside for my mother and my family. We just want to be able to grieve without the crushing weight of financial fear. Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward her urn, the memorial, and essential care for the animals she loved. If you can’t donate, please share this fundraiser with your friends, family, and any communities that might help. Thank you all for your kindness and for helping us honor Barbara’s memory.