My wonderful, strong, resilient mom is in need of help. She's dedicated her life to helping others, not just in her profession as a massage therapist, but in her community as well. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels, singing at nursing homes during the holidays, and bringing treats and company to her elderly clients who had not many to count on, and giving countless time and effort rehabilitation, rehoming and care of animals in need. And in all this, she brought us along, showing us the spirit of giving and selflessness. She did all this in what should've been her time to relax, but when something called her, she listened. An active participant in town events and a respected businesswoman, she never let her situation in life keep her from reaching her goals. A single mom for most of my childhood, she took up that mantle and never wavered, always putting us first and the needs of our family.

In Dec 2023, my mom suffered her first stroke. We later found out, after an MRI, that it was in fact her second stroke. She had one years before, but it was small enough to not cause significant damage. This one, though, left it's mark. Her vision was compromised but most damaging of all, her mental acuity, executive functioning skills, and memory retention all suffered greatly. She tried to go back to work but found herself struggling with everyday tasks and the job she loved so much became almost impossible to do. Recently, in early Feb, she suffered her third stroke. This one took away more of her vision and added to her struggles with mental health. This is the first time I've seen my mom defeated. She's facing a mountain that seems impassable. We've done our best to help her any way we can, but there are areas where we cannot. My mom has no source of income and although she did a great job at saving, she did not account for being out of work at her age, so those savings are dwindling fast. There are also several therapies and procedures that we would love to explore, but due to her poor insurance coverage and lack of funds, we are stuck. If you knew my mom as a friend, client, or acquaintance and feel led to help her in any way, we would so greatly appreciate it. She feels alone and lost; we want her to know she was and is still very loved by those who knew her.