My mother-in-law passed away on May 21, 2025, after a long struggle with illness. She was a tough cookie, and I cared for her every day and night. When she passed, I was devastated, but I knew she was finally at peace and no longer in pain. I wanted to honor her memory with a funeral and a mass, but my father-in-law couldn't handle it, so we weren't able to have those services. That loss, and not being able to say goodbye the way I wanted, started a downward spiral for me. I became deeply depressed, lost a lot of weight, and even my own mother stopped talking to me because she was jealous of the relationship I had with my mother-in-law. Just four months later, we lost another family member, and it felt like everything was falling apart. My health suffered—I ended up in the hospital for four days with severe back pain, worried I might need surgery. Thankfully, I didn't, but it was a scary time. Through it all, I've tried to keep going for my family. My relationship with my father-in-law has had its ups and downs, but now he truly appreciates everything I do for him. He often tells me, 'You don't have to do this for me,' but I do it anyway, out of love. I even borrowed my neighbor's snowblower during a blizzard to clear a path so he could feed his birds—seeing him happy made it all worth it, even though that's probably what hurt my back! I know my mother-in-law would be proud of me for holding everyone together, but these last few weeks have been especially hard.

Our food supply has been very low. When I was able to work part-time, I could keep our pantry and fridge full, but now everything is empty. My husband works full-time at a good job, but all the money goes to bills, and we just can't catch a break. The funds from this fundraiser will help us cover groceries and household bills so we can get back on our feet. Your support would mean the world to us. May the angels above you bless you, keep you and your family safe and warm. I truly appreciate your generosity from the bottom of my heart.