In 2025, my family and I faced one of the hardest experiences of our lives. Throughout the year, we struggled with mental health issues that caused us to miss work and created ongoing financial stress. Just as we were working to recover, we experienced the unimaginable loss of our daughter, Rory Rae, who was born stillborn. The heartbreak of losing Rory Rae has made our road to healing even more difficult, and it has changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined.

During this time, we had to stay out of town in a hotel, far from the comfort of our home, and we have missed work without pay, adding financial stress to our grief. We were able to spend a couple of precious days with Rory Rae in the hospital, where she was baptized. The staff at the hospital and the funeral home were incredibly compassionate, making the experience as gentle as possible for us in such a difficult time.

We have always tried to handle things on our own and it is not easy for us to ask for help. But we have realized that we cannot do this alone, and we are now reaching out for support from others. Now, we are facing a number of expenses we never anticipated. The costs of our hotel stay, potential medical bills, and the need for future medical care and appointments—including the possibility of surgery—are all weighing heavily on us. On top of that, being off work has made it hard to keep up with our daily living costs and bills. We are doing our best to get through each day, but it’s been incredibly tough.

We would be so grateful for any support you can offer, whether it’s a donation or simply sharing our story with others. Your kindness will help us cover these unexpected costs and make our lives a little less stressful as we try to heal. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any help you can give.