Last year, my mother-in-law Justina Robertson (McCrackin) was diagnosed with COPD and pneumonia. She spent five days in the ICU and a total of nine days in the hospital. Just a week and a half ago, she was hospitalized again for eight days due to pneumonia and a severe COPD flare. Now, she needs at-home oxygen and a BiPAP machine at night to help reduce the CO2 buildup in her lungs, or she risks another hospital stay.

This woman has been a second mother to me and has always put others first, often giving her last dollar to help someone in need. Tragically, in July, her husband passed away suddenly, leaving her with only one income. For around 15 years, she worked 60-hour weeks managing the pretzel shop in the mall, but now, per doctor’s orders and with her children’s support, she simply cannot work like that anymore. Her health must come first.

We do what we can to help, but she’s facing extra bills from renting the oxygen and BiPAP machines, on top of regular expenses and unpaid bills from the three weeks she couldn’t work while sick. We’re asking for help to ease her burden during the holidays and support her until her disability benefits begin—she applied while in the hospital, but as many know, it takes time for those benefits to start. Any help is deeply appreciated, whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser to help us support her.