Darleen Capps is my sister and a hardworking single mom. On April 20th, her 11-year-old son was physically assaulted by a substitute teacher during class at the intermediate school. The substitute grabbed him around the neck from behind and shook him in front of the class as an example of how he would handle the kids. That night, her son was up crying in pain, and he continues to struggle with discomfort and symptoms from the incident. The day after, Darleen took him to Urgent Care, where he was diagnosed with a cervical sprain and concussion. Since then, they have made additional trips to the ER and urgent care as his pain persisted. Per doctor’s orders, he will be out of school and activities for at least two weeks as he recovers.

The school’s response has been difficult for the family. The principal sent the substitute home but did not contact the police—Darleen had to do that herself. The school district has since confirmed on 4/28 that they fired the substitute and reported him to the state to stop him from teaching in Nevada, and the sheriff’s office has been in touch.

Despite these actions, Darleen is left with mounting medical bills and the stress of caring for her son. To make things more complicated, Darleen’s daughter was in a car accident in December that left her with a broken back, so Darleen’s paid time off is already depleted from caring for her. Any additional time off to care for her son will mean lost income. She is also seeking legal representation and could use support with both medical and legal expenses. Thoughts and prayers are much appreciated for both Darleen and her children. We are all very grateful for any support you can give!