Hello, my name is Irene, and I'm sharing this story with a broken heart. My beloved aunt, a cornerstone of our family, has been taken from us by the devastating war in the Congo. The violence that tore through our home was followed by an even crueler tragedy: the hospital's lack of even the most basic medical equipment meant she couldn't be saved. She was a victim not just of war, but of a broken system.

She leaves behind seven children, now orphans, with no one to guide them but their oldest sibling, who is just 18 years old. As if that wasn't enough pain to bear, three of her younger children are still in that same hospital, fighting for their lives, caught in the very same brutal cycle that took their mother.

We are desperate to give my aunt a proper burial, a final act of love and respect she so deserves. We also need to pay the overwhelming hospital bills for the three children who are still clinging to life. Most urgently, we need to provide food and safety for the children who are now alone at home.

Every donation, no matter how small, is a lifeline for my family. It's a chance to honor the memory of the woman we lost and to protect the children she left behind. It's a chance for hope in the midst of unimaginable grief. Thank you for listening, and for any help you can offer.