JA focus on supporting mom after dad Jonathan Fay's death

On Sunday, October 5th, my mom found my dad Jonathan Fay unconscious and not breathing at his desk. I called 911, got him on the floor and did compressions until the paramedics arrived. They tried for maybe forty minutes to revive him, but could not restart his heart. My father died in his home office, working through the weekend while sick with COVID to try and meet a deadline for his job.

My father had been desparate to retire but still working because he knew that so many people he loved depended on the stability of his work income and health insurance. We shared a very full intergenerational household where he was the primary breadwinner. Amongst those he leaves behind in our home are my disabled mother Karen, his brother Jim with Parkinson's, his son Hal and his fiance Ishani who were living at home to save up to move to Alaska after getting maried, his second youngest Cypress who is neurodivergent and chronically ill and working on community college, and me, his eldest child who has been navigating finding accessible employment after developing disabilities during the pandemic. He also leaves behind my brother Cameron who just aged out of his health insurance, and my little sister Medb who recently was approved for disability and had only just moved out to start an exciting new chapter closer to the city with a friend.

I have been hustling the past few years developing my small ocean art business and have vended 24 events last year and 25 events so far this year while also doing part time contract work and trying to obtain full-time employment. The nature of my work means I do not get paid time off; if I do not vend or get online sales, I do not have income. I'm proud of the progress I've made in selling my art, but on average I am still having to dip into the money I have saved for moving out each month to cover my access to healthcare.

I'm asking for support to just help cover my remaining health care access costs for the year so that I can focus on supporting my mom through this loss. My dad died without a will or any estate planning, and so it is going to be a messy and complicated process to deal with while also grieving. It would mean the world to have that weight off my shoulders so that when I am able to do events there isn't so much fear about whether it will be a good enough sales day.

I may have additional needs come up, but I really struggle asking for financial support and this is what I'm comfortable asking for right now. Please don't send anything unless you are in a comfortable stable position to do so.

Thank you,

Jamie