My name is Katrina and on November 23rd my adopted mom Michele, a trans woman, passed away from complications from prolonged dialysis. As her eldest daughter, it became my role to ensure her wishes were fulfilled in this challenging, sudden situation. With little notice I traveled to see her in ICU in Kingston, NY, moved her to a more peaceful environment in hospice, and was with her during her death alongside my aunt and her best friend. It was one of the hardest but most beautiful moments of my life proving that you never know where life will take you - or what you are capable of.

The wildest part of it all is that Michele and I hadn't reconnected in over a decade. When my parents divorced after her transition we all went to different places and as life will have it we fell out of touch. In those precious ten days of reunification we caught up on our respective lives - her love of rock climbing and cooking, learning to play the piano and guitar, becoming an amateur woodworker - and I was able to connect with her friends and favorite local haunts. In this time I came to recognize just how much of an impact she had on me growing up - I am who I am because of her from my love of Rush to walking in the woods and playing pool. We both needed each other more than we knew and I'm so lucky for even this short amount of time with her at the end.

This campaign is to recuperate the costs of her funeral including cremation, burial, and other general expenses incurred during the trip. Unfortunately, because of her transition her sister and I are the only family ensuring that her legacy and identity as a woman are preserved. It was her wish to be buried with my brother/her son, Carl, in Wisconsin, and we have successfully acquired a burial plot adjacent to his that will bear her name. With additional funds, we would also like to create a memorial for her with the LGBTQ Center of Hudson Valley to honor her life where she lived for almost two decades.

Any amount will help us to fulfill her dying wishes. We will need to arrange for the headstone in advance of interring her remains in the Spring and the overall costs of travel in general are beyond my means. I am so grateful for your help! Together we build the community of care - as Michele showed me through her forgiveness and love. Thank you. <3