Super Mom and nurse needs our help!  Meet my cousin Ina who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis four years ago.  Ina had been married for 12 years at the time of her diagnosis and had two small children Matilda, 9 and Joseph 7.  

Ina was diagnosed with an aggressive form of MS and had to treat the disease with a form of chemotherapy called Lemtrada, for the next two years. Being a nurse Ina was unable to work due to her weakened immune system.

During this time her marriage became extremely strained and her husband turned to drugs and alcohol and became mentally abusive with outbursts of rage where he would punch holes in the wall and destroyed their home. The breaking point was when he held a loaded gun to her head and threatened her life.  She had to flee from her home with the kids, to a women’s shelter for domestic violence  and obtain a restraining order against her husband. 

During this time of living in the shelter her Doctor found a new leison in her spine. Ina immediately had to have a third round of chemotherapy. This time was extremely difficult and being left without any income only added to the stress. Ina and the kids survived on $386 cash aid and $443 in food stamps each month. Two months into her stay her car was repossessed. This forced her and the kids to take public transportation. It took two hours and four buses to get to school and two hours and four buses to get home from school. Ina was taking at least 10 busses a day to keep her kids in the same schools to give them some sort of stability. Their days would start at 4:30am and they wouldn’t get home from school until 7pm. 

We are hoping to raise enough money to buy her a reliable car before the start of the school year and pay a full year of car insurance. We would like to earn the funds over the next two months. Having a reliable car would take a lot of stress out of her daily life, since she is immune compromised. Especially in these times with Covid-19, public transportation is extremely dangerous to her compromised health.

Ina has been extremely grateful for all the clothing donations and family support she has already received. It amazes me how Ina still manages to be happy, hopeful and optimistic despite the hardships her and her kids face daily. I wish you could meet Ina because her kind, giving, and generous spirt is infectious. Her courage, bravery and strength are inspiring to everyone she knows. If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ina, then you know what I’m saying is true.  Ina goes through each day laughing and smiling despite her chronic and debilitating nerve pain let alone the additional challenges she’s had to face. You would never know there’s anything wrong in her life.

I hope you can find it in your heart to give to Ina and her kids. Anything you can spare will help. Let’s join together to help her family get back on their feet. As a nurse and a mom Ina has given selflessly to others, help us show Ina that others are willing to give back as much as she has. Please be a part of “Team Ina”!

With Gratitude, 
Mia and Natasha