My mother, Christy Stark, has gotten my siblings and I through the absolute harshest of times. For those who don’t know me, my name is Aidan Stark. I’m 22, and my siblings are 15, 14, 11, and 9 years old. For the past six years, she has worked tirelessly to get us through the court process and safe from the domestic abuse we escaped from. She works a full-time job and multiple side jobs that take up the majority of her week to pay out of pocket for mental health services, (1000 dollars a month alone) medical bills, and everything we need to heal and move forward from the abuse. This is all while balancing house/car payments (her car is old, and needs a ton of repairs), insurance bills, groceries, clothing, and all of the expenses a parent needs to pay. But she’s done all of this with more love and grace than imaginable. Recently my brother, Liam Stark, went missing. She was out searching around the clock (because she drove around so much, her car needs a ton of repairs), organizing search parties, handing out flyers, and brought our community close together to find him. She is a rock for so many people. But throughout all of this, we have always remained the top priority in her life. She never compromised our happiness and health, she compromised hers. If we needed supports that required more money, she got another job to make sure we could pay for everything we needed to. Even in her spare moments and without money to go out and do things, she’s made so many fun times at home and wonderful memories we will never forget. She has always kept a smile on her face, and always sees the best in everyone. My mother has struggled on her own for years, working harder than I’ve seen anyone work. Giving every little bit of herself she has in order to keep us all safe, healthy, and happy. I cannot let my mother struggle on her own for any longer. Without her unwavering support and love to all of us, my family would be drowning. She’s the best mother, friend, coworker, and person anyone could ever ask for. So please, support my mother with me. Be my mother’s love and light that she has been for so many people. Thank you.