Prayers and support for my mom
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Help Us Give Our Mom, Lori, the Comfort and Peace She Deserves
Writing this is something none of us ever imagined we would have to do, and truthfully, none of us wanted to. Asking for help isn’t easy for our family. But when it comes to our mom, there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for her.
Our mom, Lori, is a mother of eight children, but simply calling her our mom doesn’t begin to explain who she is.
Growing up, she was the foundation of our family. She was the person who held everything together and somehow always found a way to make things work. But that love was never limited to her own children. Family, friends, our friends growing up, everyone knew that if they needed somewhere to go, someone to talk to, something to eat, or simply someone who cared, Lori’s door and heart were always open.
If you ask the people who know her to describe her, you’ll hear the same words over and over again: kind, loving, caring and selfless.
She’s one of those people who would give someone else her last dollar and then worry about how she was going to make it work afterward.
She has spent her entire life taking care of other people.
For the last several years, however, our mom has been fighting a battle that no person should ever have to fight.
She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and what followed has been years of appointments, treatments, procedures, hospital stays, uncertainty, good news followed by bad news, and more pain than most people will ever see. There were times we thought we were finally getting ahead of it, only to be knocked back down again.
And somehow, through all of it, she never stopped being Mom.
Even while undergoing treatments and fighting for her own life, she was still checking on everyone else. Still trying to help people. Still worrying about her children, grandchildren and everyone else. Still doing whatever she could for someone who needed her.
That’s simply who our mom is.
Recently, things have taken a heartbreaking turn.
Our mom was admitted to the hospital after becoming increasingly weak, unable to eat or drink much, and jaundiced. Doctors attempted a procedure to address the problems she was experiencing, but they were unable to replace her stent. We have learned that her tumor has grown and is now affecting other organs.
Following the procedure, she experienced complications with her breathing and required a significant amount of oxygen and close monitoring. Her gallbladder has required drainage, her bilirubin has been elevated, her blood pressure has been extremely low, and her doctors have been doing what they can to prevent infection, manage her symptoms and keep her comfortable.
Then our family was given the conversation none of us were prepared to hear.
Her doctors recommended hospice.
Our mom wants to go home.
She wants to be comfortable. She wants to be surrounded by the people she loves. And after spending her entire life worrying about everyone else, we desperately want her to have whatever time God gives us without lying awake worrying about bills, expenses, or what will happen afterward.
And somehow, while all of this was happening, our family was hit again.
While Mom was lying in one hospital dealing with complications from her cancer, our dad became extremely sick and had to be taken by ambulance to another hospital. His blood sugar was in the 500s, and doctors determined that he was in diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. A serious and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes.
He required IV fluids, an insulin drip and admission to the ICU. At one point his heart rate climbed to around 160, requiring a rapid-response evaluation. Thankfully, he has been improving, but for a period of time, both of our parents were hospitalized at the same time, in two different hospitals, dealing with serious medical emergencies.
And Mom didn’t even know.
We made the decision not to tell her at first because she was already so weak and going through more than anyone should have to handle. We knew that if she found out Dad was sick, she would be lying in her own hospital bed worrying about him instead of herself.
Because that’s Mom.
Even when she’s the one who needs help, she’s worried about everybody else.
One of the hardest parts of all of this came when our mom, lying in that hospital bed, asked us if someone could start a GoFundMe for her.
That broke our hearts.
None of us wanted to make one. None of us wanted to be in a position where we needed to ask other people for help. But she is our mom, and we would do anything for her.
After everything she has endured, she shouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed worrying about money. She shouldn’t be worrying about whether Dad will be okay, whether her children will be okay, how expenses will be handled, or whether we’ll be able to fulfill the wishes she’s expressed to us.
She should only have to worry about resting, being comfortable, coming home and feeling the love of the enormous family she created.
The money raised will help relieve the financial burden surrounding her care and comfort, the expenses our family is facing during this incredibly difficult time, and allow us to focus more of our energy where it belongs—with Mom.
And when that day eventually comes, there is one wish in particular that means a great deal to her and to all of us.
Our mom wants to be brought back home to Maryland, where we grew up, and laid to rest there.
Even writing those words hurts.
Part of what we raise will be set aside to make sure that when the time comes, we can honor that wish without finances determining what we’re able to do for her.
We don’t know exactly how much time we have. We’re not going to put a number on something only God knows.
What we do know is that right now, every day matters.
Every conversation matters.
Every hug matters.
Every “I love you” matters.
We want her children and grandchildren to be able to surround her with the same love she has spent her entire life giving to everyone else. We want to hold her hand instead of worrying about what something is going to cost. Most of all, we want Mom to have peace knowing that everything will be taken care of.
If you know Lori, there’s a good chance you have your own story about her.
Maybe she helped you when you were struggling. Maybe she gave you somewhere to go. Maybe she listened when nobody else would. Maybe she checked on you, fed you, prayed for you, made you laugh, or simply made you feel like somebody cared.
That’s the woman we’re asking people to help now.
If you’re able to donate, no amount is too small. Every dollar will help us give our mom a little more comfort and a little less to worry about. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Lori, our dad and our entire family in your prayers means more than we could ever put into words.
Our mom has spent a lifetime being there for everyone else.
Now it’s our turn to be there for her.
We love you, Mom.
More than these words could ever explain. ❤️
Writing this is something none of us ever imagined we would have to do, and truthfully, none of us wanted to. Asking for help isn’t easy for our family. But when it comes to our mom, there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for her.
Our mom, Lori, is a mother of eight children, but simply calling her our mom doesn’t begin to explain who she is.
Growing up, she was the foundation of our family. She was the person who held everything together and somehow always found a way to make things work. But that love was never limited to her own children. Family, friends, our friends growing up, everyone knew that if they needed somewhere to go, someone to talk to, something to eat, or simply someone who cared, Lori’s door and heart were always open.
If you ask the people who know her to describe her, you’ll hear the same words over and over again: kind, loving, caring and selfless.
She’s one of those people who would give someone else her last dollar and then worry about how she was going to make it work afterward.
She has spent her entire life taking care of other people.
For the last several years, however, our mom has been fighting a battle that no person should ever have to fight.
She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and what followed has been years of appointments, treatments, procedures, hospital stays, uncertainty, good news followed by bad news, and more pain than most people will ever see. There were times we thought we were finally getting ahead of it, only to be knocked back down again.
And somehow, through all of it, she never stopped being Mom.
Even while undergoing treatments and fighting for her own life, she was still checking on everyone else. Still trying to help people. Still worrying about her children, grandchildren and everyone else. Still doing whatever she could for someone who needed her.
That’s simply who our mom is.
Recently, things have taken a heartbreaking turn.
Our mom was admitted to the hospital after becoming increasingly weak, unable to eat or drink much, and jaundiced. Doctors attempted a procedure to address the problems she was experiencing, but they were unable to replace her stent. We have learned that her tumor has grown and is now affecting other organs.
Following the procedure, she experienced complications with her breathing and required a significant amount of oxygen and close monitoring. Her gallbladder has required drainage, her bilirubin has been elevated, her blood pressure has been extremely low, and her doctors have been doing what they can to prevent infection, manage her symptoms and keep her comfortable.
Then our family was given the conversation none of us were prepared to hear.
Her doctors recommended hospice.
Our mom wants to go home.
She wants to be comfortable. She wants to be surrounded by the people she loves. And after spending her entire life worrying about everyone else, we desperately want her to have whatever time God gives us without lying awake worrying about bills, expenses, or what will happen afterward.
And somehow, while all of this was happening, our family was hit again.
While Mom was lying in one hospital dealing with complications from her cancer, our dad became extremely sick and had to be taken by ambulance to another hospital. His blood sugar was in the 500s, and doctors determined that he was in diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. A serious and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes.
He required IV fluids, an insulin drip and admission to the ICU. At one point his heart rate climbed to around 160, requiring a rapid-response evaluation. Thankfully, he has been improving, but for a period of time, both of our parents were hospitalized at the same time, in two different hospitals, dealing with serious medical emergencies.
And Mom didn’t even know.
We made the decision not to tell her at first because she was already so weak and going through more than anyone should have to handle. We knew that if she found out Dad was sick, she would be lying in her own hospital bed worrying about him instead of herself.
Because that’s Mom.
Even when she’s the one who needs help, she’s worried about everybody else.
One of the hardest parts of all of this came when our mom, lying in that hospital bed, asked us if someone could start a GoFundMe for her.
That broke our hearts.
None of us wanted to make one. None of us wanted to be in a position where we needed to ask other people for help. But she is our mom, and we would do anything for her.
After everything she has endured, she shouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed worrying about money. She shouldn’t be worrying about whether Dad will be okay, whether her children will be okay, how expenses will be handled, or whether we’ll be able to fulfill the wishes she’s expressed to us.
She should only have to worry about resting, being comfortable, coming home and feeling the love of the enormous family she created.
The money raised will help relieve the financial burden surrounding her care and comfort, the expenses our family is facing during this incredibly difficult time, and allow us to focus more of our energy where it belongs—with Mom.
And when that day eventually comes, there is one wish in particular that means a great deal to her and to all of us.
Our mom wants to be brought back home to Maryland, where we grew up, and laid to rest there.
Even writing those words hurts.
Part of what we raise will be set aside to make sure that when the time comes, we can honor that wish without finances determining what we’re able to do for her.
We don’t know exactly how much time we have. We’re not going to put a number on something only God knows.
What we do know is that right now, every day matters.
Every conversation matters.
Every hug matters.
Every “I love you” matters.
We want her children and grandchildren to be able to surround her with the same love she has spent her entire life giving to everyone else. We want to hold her hand instead of worrying about what something is going to cost. Most of all, we want Mom to have peace knowing that everything will be taken care of.
If you know Lori, there’s a good chance you have your own story about her.
Maybe she helped you when you were struggling. Maybe she gave you somewhere to go. Maybe she listened when nobody else would. Maybe she checked on you, fed you, prayed for you, made you laugh, or simply made you feel like somebody cared.
That’s the woman we’re asking people to help now.
If you’re able to donate, no amount is too small. Every dollar will help us give our mom a little more comfort and a little less to worry about. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Lori, our dad and our entire family in your prayers means more than we could ever put into words.
Our mom has spent a lifetime being there for everyone else.
Now it’s our turn to be there for her.
We love you, Mom.
More than these words could ever explain. ❤️
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Katie Owen
Bénéficiaire