I’m asking for help for my 26-year-old daughter and her three little boys, ages 5, 3, and 2. She recently left a very difficult relationship and is trying to rebuild a safe, stable life for her children.

She works for a caregiving service, spending her days helping others. Now she is facing a serious health crisis of her own. At first, her seizure episodes were occurring as often as every 10 minutes. They are now about an hour apart, but they continue to disrupt her daily life and keep her from safely returning to work.

She has focal impaired-awareness epileptic seizures and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), also called functional seizures. Her doctor explained that stress has triggered the PNES episodes, which are associated with conversion disorder, now commonly called functional neurological disorder. During some episodes, she stares into space and doesn’t respond to ordinary conversation. Sometimes she responds when someone says her name, but afterward she remembers nothing.

She is being referred to a specialist who treats PNES and functional seizures, and her neurologists have recommended treatment for these episodes. She is receiving home health physical and occupational therapy, and a 72-hour continuous video EEG at home is planned. She will be unable to work for at least a month, and we don’t yet know when she’ll be able to return.

She has already had to buy a walker and shower chair and is facing copays for emergency, hospital, and follow-up care. When she went back to the house to collect belongings, her clothes had been soiled with urine, some of the boys’ toys had been thrown away, and she could not find their clothes. The confrontation was too intense to try to find all of their belongings. The boys have very few clothes and no toys, and they are scared and confused by everything that has changed.

She is trying to replace basic necessities while keeping up with rent, utilities, groceries, the car payment and insurance, childcare, and other monthly bills. Food assistance helps, but it does not cover everything a family of four needs.

We’re setting a goal of $20,000 because we don’t know how long she’ll be unable to work. Donations will help with essential bills, medical costs, and the basic things she and the boys need as they rebuild. Donations will go directly to her or be used for expenses and needs related to her and the boys.

If you can contribute, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, sharing this fundraiser would mean so much. Every bit of support helps this little family take the next step toward stability.