Morse Trio Family Fund

Sharing our financial struggles is not something my family normally does but I no longer know what to do at this point.
   My mom, Trish, has cerebral palsy, an uncurable disorder that impacts her body movement and muscle control. For those who know my mom, know she is very strong, proud, and resilient. She has faced numerous obstacles that could have easily brought her down but she has moved forward. She attended college and graduate school to receive her master's degree. Her real passion in life is teaching, kindergarten and special education are her specialty. When my dad passed away 10 years ago it ended my mom's teaching career of over 15 years. It was too all much to work a full time job, raise two teenage girls on her own and still be able to take care of herself properly. She worked a handful of part-time jobs to keep our family going during such a difficult time. 
My older sister, Delaney, earned her bachelor's degree from Pacific University and now works a full time job at an elementary school in our home town. She has been living with my mom and taking care of her while I have been in school. My mom has been working a part-time job helping adults with learning disabilities find jobs in the community. The work she can handle is limited but she continues to push herself. She requires specific medical care because of her disability. There was a complication during one of her procedures last month and she has been in the hosipital ever since. She had to have surgery on her spine but is now recovering. She is expected to return home in a week or so. Her recovery time after that is estimated to be 16 weeks long. During that time she cannot work and will not receive any kind of income. That's four months that my family is expected to live off of my sister's small monthly income of roughly  $1300. This is not nearly enough to cover bills such as rent, power, water, let alone groceries or anything my mom may need to help her recover. I do not have the means to help my family as much as I would like and, at this time, we have no idea what my mom's medical bills are going to look like once she recovers.        
   Despite our challenges, my mom has given my sister and I everything. She has completely dedicated her life to us. I am now 21 years old and about to start my last semester of undergraduate school at Linfield College. My mom is the reason I am where I am today. She has taught me how to be strong and how to be my own hero. I will be receiving a bachelor's degree in biology in hopes of continuing on to graduate school for a phD in wildlife conservation or zoology.
    While being a full time student, I work as a teaching assistant and as a tutor. I am also working under one of my professors by researching the microbiome of vineyards in the willamette valley. I have been given the opportunity to attend this great school because my financial aid has carried me for the past three years. Any money I make during the school year does not go towards my tuition but  to my own bills or my family's bills back home. This year has been different because my financial aid has changed. A loan that I have received the passed three years is no longer available to anyone. It is called the Perkins loan and I am sure there are many people who have been impacted by its absence. This loan covered $6000 of my tuition each year for the passed three years, without it I am expected to pay that amount out of pocket.
     Another challenge I am facing is that I am taking part in a month long semester abroad. I made the decision to apply for this program last year because I believed my family's financial crisis had ended. The news about the Perkins loan also did not reach me until after I was accepted into and committed to this course. The deadline to withdraw from this abroad trip was May 31st, 2018. I obviously missed this deadline, and am now responsible for the course fees if I go on the trip or not. The total cost for this trip is $6200 dollars. I am still incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to experience this trip. We will be traveling to Chile and Argentina this january to explore the impacts of climate change on the vineyards there.
     I am a realistic person and have come to terms with the fact that my family and I will not be able to cover these costs before graduation come this May. I will very proudly walk across stage along side my friends and my peers, knowing that I have put in all the work I could and have finished everything required to get my degree. I will not receive my diploma on time and therefore will not be eligible for graduate school next fall. I will receive nothing until I can pay my school everything I owe them. I will come home after graduation and work until I get can get my diploma that will get me into graduate school.
      I am publishing this because my mom has been a hero to my sister and I, as well as to herself, for much too long. We have been very lucky to have extraordinary people in our lives who have stepped in and helped us during desperate times. My family is forever grateful to these people. We can no longer burden them with our troubles, they have done so much for us already. I am reaching out to the community because I am sure my mom had a positive impact on it. Maybe you Know her as your kid's teacher or even your teacher. This post is a request for anything, positive words, advice, resources, connections, you name it. Even just chatting with people who have been through simlar situations would be comforting. Help comes in many forms, much love to everyone and happy holidays.
Love, the Morse trio.