Two days before Thanksgiving, our family lost an extraordinary woman, Marianne was a devoted mother and caregiver who spent more than two decades caring for her son, Dennis.
In 2002, Dennis was the victim of a hit-and-run accident caused by someone fleeing the police. The injuries left him completely bedridden with short-term memory loss. From that moment on, Marianne became his full-time caregiver and she did that job with incredible dedication, love, and skill. In over 20 years of care, Dennis never suffered a bed sore. She gave him dignity, safety, and stability for the rest of her life.
Her passing was sudden, and because she did not have a will, everything has gone into probate. That process has temporarily frozen access to essential resources — including Dennis’s Social Security benefits and the ability to hire part-time professional caregiving support.
Dennis’s sister Dana has stepped up without hesitation to take over his care. She is currently on FMLA so she can be with him full-time while we work through the legal and logistical challenges ahead. However, during this transition, our family is now supporting two households, managing ongoing medical and daily living needs, and covering basic expenses without access to the benefits Dennis normally relies on.
We are asking for help to create a small but vital cushion — roughly one to two months of breathing room — to cover:
• Household bills for the home Dennis currently lives in
• Basic living and care expenses during probate
• Temporary caregiving support so Dana can sustain this level of care
Every dollar raised will go directly toward keeping Dennis safe, cared for, and stable while we navigate probate and work toward combining households and long-term solutions.
Marianne gave everything she had to care for her son. We are determined to honor her legacy by ensuring Dennis continues to receive the compassionate care she provided for so many years.
If you are able to donate, share, or simply keep our family in your thoughts, we are deeply grateful. Your support means more than we can express.
Thank you for helping us through this incredibly difficult transition.