Lily and Blaise

My name is Erin Carley. On March 30, 2014, my five-year old son, Ashton, was diagnosed with Leukemia. After a 9 month battle, he lost and passed away on 11-11-2014. I lived with Ashton in the hospital for nearly one year while he underwent treatment. His final days were horrific and I had to make that decision to end the suffering.
 The following day, I became homeless.
During this time of crippling grief and utter shock, I made a poorly calculated decision to move across the country, seeking support from family, My older children, for whom this page is for, stayed with their dad in Chicago.
Since then, I have been homeless, scraped by, couched surfed and worked odd jobs. Having not been prepared, I could not figure out how to just get up and work. I was told by professionals that I would likely need a year that I wouldn't remember before I could re-enter a normal life.
That year is up.  I have created a strategy to get back to Chicago to my children who are still living and need me in their lives.
My daughter, Lily just turned 16 and I was able to be there for that... and my son, Blaise is now 12. I am missing their lives due to a decision I made in the first month of losing Ashton.
I have not been able to fix it.
 
Since I am struggling to keep a roof over my head, my only hope was to reach out to my network.

 I've done a lot of healing, but I will never be ok until I can be with them again.

The reason this means so much to me is because THEY need me and my absence will affect them later in life.
I am so thankful for any help.
I have people who have helped me in the past and I am so grateful.
I am ready now to write my son's story.
Thank you for passing this on, if you will.
A truly humbling experience.