<div>In Loving Memory of Michael LaFollette – Seeking Help After an Unexpected Loss

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<div>Hello, my name is Dena Hart LaFollette, and I never imagined I’d be writing something like this.

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<div>A few months ago, <strong>I lost my husband Mikey—suddenly and far too soon.</strong> We had been together for 18 ½ years, spending nearly every day side by side. He was my best friend, my partner in everything, and life without him will never be the same. I stayed by his side during his hospital stay, sleeping in his room for nearly two weeks. It gave him comfort, and somehow, it gave me strength too.

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<div>Mikey was a mechanic and had been working on fixing our cars before he passed. Tragically, he was just a week away from having both health and life insurance coverage. Because of that, <strong>I’ve been left with no income, no transportation, and a mountain of medical bills—approaching $900,000, even after reductions from the hospital.</strong> I was a homemaker for nearly two decades, and while I’m now actively searching for remote work and trying to sell items online, I’m struggling to make ends meet.

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<div>I’ve been able to manage some things thanks to a few close family members and a couple of dear friends, but the truth is: I can't do this alone anymore. I've had to cover the costs of Mikey's cremation, our household bills, and daily necessities, all while grieving his tragic passing.

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<div>It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but I find myself with no other choice. <strong>Any support—financial, emotional, or even just sharing this campaign—means the world to me right now.</strong>

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<div>Nothing will ever be the same without Mikey, but the world keeps turning, even though it feels like it shouldn't. I’m doing my best to keep going, one step at a time.

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<div>With love and deep gratitude,

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<div>Dena

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<div>PS: He had a service up in Washington that I could not attend, so I would love to have one here, too.

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Tammy Kirkwood

Cynthia Christie

Rachel Hart

David King

Support for Mikey’s Widow After Sudden Loss. We miss you!

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