On September 6, 2024, my husband, while shopping for soccer cleats with our 2 youngest children for our 10-year-old's first soccer game, experienced a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed in front of them. Despite valiant rescue efforts by our 10-year-old son and EMT resuscitation that took 58 minutes, it resulted in complete brain death. His passing on September 12, 2024, has left my family and me in profound grief.

Moreover, his pre-existing medical conditions, which rendered him uninsurable, have resulted in substantial financial burdens. I am now tasked with ensuring a fitting farewell and securing the future for our two youngest children, including our 5-year-old son with autism and special needs, who requires constant care. As his the primary caregiver, my husband's absence has created a significant void.

Your generosity will enable me to provide a proper tribute and navigate the financial challenges ahead. My husband was our primary caregiver for our son as he himself was home with a disability while I worked outside the home to help him cover our living expenses that his disability income simply did not cover. Now that he has passed I will have to stay home with our boys until I can establish a new normal. 3 days prior to my husbands passing we’d reached out to a temporary foster care agency for our toddler so my husband could go into the hospital for much needed care and I could continue working during the day. The thought of our baby boy being somewhere with strangers unable to communicate properly made this choice no longer an option. As we were exploring other options my husband passed away! We have never had respite care or family or friends step up to offer any assistance or respite so we were a team. Our son’s therapist is in home from 8am-3pm daily and our toddler and 10 yr old were poised for online learning this year due to bullying. My husband’s role was vital.

I can’t express enough how grateful I am for any assistance as it will allow me to replan, refocus and not have to to put my son in a facility as I figure out next steps. Thank you in advance for your prayers, condolences, and support. May my husband's loving nature be a source of comfort for us all during this difficult time.