Hi, I'm Meghan. In the week my mom passed one year ago- during the same weekend we held her celebration of life- my dad and all of his belongings were moved into my home.

Overnight, I became his full-time caregiver.

At the time, I was renovating this house to host short-term guests. I was entering the second year of managing a farmers market I built from the ground up. I had recently stepped away from a job so I could pursue building a business rooted in support, healing, and meaningful service. I’ve spent years working with animals- in zoos, shelters, and on farms- and in sustainable agriculture- learning soil health, studying permaculture, and developing my skills as an intuitive herbalist for personal wellness- always feeling drawn to work that supports both people and the Earth.

All of that paused.

Instead, I stepped into grief, responsibility, and the constant logistics of helping my father navigate life after a major stroke and a major loss. He struggles with walking and coordination, uses a walker, no longer drives, and has difficulty speaking and connecting thoughts to words. Because of that, nearly every outside communication related to his health, finances, and appointments requires my help. This past year has been a season of surrender, with grief arriving in waves as I’ve done my best to meet each new obstacle with strength, grace, and steadiness.

At the same time, this year has deepened my gratitude for my mom. Even through the pain of losing her, I feel that her passing has, in its own way, given me courage, clarity, and a set of wings to more fully step toward the dreams and purpose I’ve carried in my heart for a long time. Meditation, qigong, my garden, my pets, and the farmers market community have all helped keep me grounded, reminding me to move with love, truth, and inner coherence- and that life is still beautiful, even in heavy seasons.

Now we’re at a turning point.

What life looks like today

Most days I wake by 8am, meditate and practice qigong, stoke the fire, care for the animals, and check on my dad. From there, I support what he can’t do alone:

Caregiving has made holding a traditional full-time job unrealistic. We’ve largely been dependent on my father’s Social Security to cover combined expenses, leaving no room for saving and barely getting by. And while I’m deeply grateful I’ve been able to show up for him, I also know I can’t be his sole caregiver forever.

So I’m asking for help in a way that’s clear and transparent: this fundraiser has two focused asks- one for my dad, and one for me- because both are essential to this bridge year. Some people may feel especially moved to support my dad’s immediate care needs, while others may feel called to invest in my professional growth and my broader service path.

ASK #1: Support Don’s Home Care + Accessibility

(so he can thrive)

My dad deserves consistent care that helps him thrive- occupational, physical, and speech therapies, mobility support, and more social engagement. He deserves to live with dignity and comfort in the home he knows best.

One detail that has become increasingly important: our shower is upstairs, and my dad’s mobility has declined. He has to walk upstairs to bathe, which creates stress and safety concerns. A major goal this year is to build a downstairs bathroom so it includes an accessible shower- so he can bathe safely without navigating stairs.

Donations that support my dad will help cover:

This isn’t about “getting by.” It’s about helping him truly thrive.

ASK #2: Support Meghan’s Training + Business Launch (so I can build a sustainable path of service)

At the same time, I need to transition away from being full-time caregiver so I can pursue my life and business aspirations- without compromising my dad’s quality of life.

This bridge year supports my ability to build and launch a business in a grounded, responsible way. Not by replacing income- but by covering the real, practical costs that make this transition possible: caregiving coverage while I’m away, training investments, travel, and creating a home setup that is safer and more accessible for my dad. These supports give me the runway to build something sustainable- so I’m not stuck in a cycle of emergency decisions, month after month.

Animals have been my first passion since I was a child. I’ve always felt comfortable around them, especially when they show fear or anxiety, and I’ve learned to trust a gift of foresight in myself- I can often sense an animal’s next move and emotional shift before it happens. That helps me guide them through change by naming what they’re feeling- fear, excitement, frustration, etc- and offering calm, steady reassurance.

But this isn’t only about animals.

Over the years, I’ve also spent significant time working in sustainable agriculture- supporting soil health, working with nature through permaculture principles, and building my personal wellness skills through clean eating and the integration of medicinal herbs. What I’m launching is a business that supports animals and their human caregivers, while also supporting humans, plants, and the Earth through intuitive guidance, grounded practices, and deeper connection.

My work will include services such as:

There are specific deadlines this spring (including early May) for training investments and commitments I need to make this year. In addition to an immersive once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity in Indonesia with a world renowned animal communicator, there will be other courses, readings, and workshops I need to invest in before then to build my foundation properly.

Interspecies healing and communication is a core thread of this work. At its foundation, this path is about helping animals and people move through change with more trust, groundedness, healing, and connection- to themselves, each other, and the Earth.

A note on integrity

I want to be very clear: these funds are not replacing my income. They are meant to directly support costs associated with respite and in-home health care services, home accessibility improvements for my father, and time-sensitive training and travel investments for me during this pivotal transition in both of our lives.

If you feel especially moved to support my dad’s immediate care needs, or you feel called to invest in my training and professional path, please know this: both sides support the same bridge year. Your donation helps create safety, dignity, and comfort for my dad at home- and gives me the runway to pursue time-sensitive training and traveling while making sure he’s supported and safe.

How donations will be used (transparency matters to me)

Asking for help has been a practice in surrender for me. I feel blessed to have the self-awareness to recognize when support is needed- and I want to honor that support with integrity. Below is the clearest breakdown I can offer for how funds will be used to help my dad thrive at home and help me responsibly step into the training and work I feel called to build.

These are estimated categories, and I’ll share updates as funds are used.

Base goal: $50,000

Stretch goal: $60,000

Additional funds would go toward:

My promise to supporters

If you support this bridge year, I will:

The love and support our family has already received over the last year has meant more than I can fully express. This fundraiser is another way of helping carry not only my dad and me, but our whole family, toward a future with more dignity, peace, and possibility.

If you feel called to support my dad’s care, my training path, or both- thank you. Every donation and share helps carry us across this bridge.

With love and gratitude,

Meghan