Hello, Our names are Latanya and Natasha, my family and I are heartbroken as we share the painful and unexpected loss of our mother. We are asking for help during this devastating time as we fight for answers, justice, and the proper arrangements to honor her.

For three months, my mother lived in a nursing home where she shared a room with a resident named Bonnie. From the very beginning, my sister Tanya repeatedly requested for my mom to be moved to another room. We were told the same things: “We’re short-staffed,” “There are no open rooms,” even though Tanya would see empty rooms every time she visited.

During this time, my mother was constantly tormented by her roommate — having her phone stolen or hidden, being called names, having water poured on her, and even having objects thrown at her. Every complaint we made was brushed off with, “That’s just Bonnie being Bonnie.” Nothing was ever done to protect my mom.

My mom was also physically dependent on staff. She could walk only with full support because she couldn’t bend her knees. She needed a walker and physical assistance. She was also unable to feed herself because she could not bend her elbows enough to bring food to her mouth. Many times, the nurses would not help her eat or go to the bathroom. My sister went every day just to make sure she was fed.

We tried to find a safer nursing home, but her insurance only covered a limited list, making it extremely difficult to move her quickly.

Then the unthinkable happened.

When they found my mother’s body, she was laying on her back with her knees bent upward and off the bed — a position she physically could not put herself in. Her arms were raised and bent downward, like she had been trying to fight someone off. She could not bend her arms like that on her own.

The pillow my sister always placed under her swollen feet was thrown to the side instead of under her legs, where it always should’ve been.

Nurses and CNAs reported that residents heard someone yelling for help without receiving assistance.

When the morning nurse walked in, the first thing she said was, “What happened?” and the roommate’s (Bonnie’s) first words were, “I didn’t do it.” Before we even arrived, the nurse clocked out early, leaving immediately after our mom was found.

By the time we got there, our mother was on the floor. Staff said they put her there “to do CPR,” but we have no clear answers about what truly happened.

Her passing was described by the staff as “horrifying,” and we can only imagine the fear and pain she experienced in her final moments.

Our family is shattered. We lost our mother in a way no family should ever have to experience — in a place that was supposed to protect her.

When our mother passed, we expected the coroner’s report to give us clarity. Instead, we discovered something even more alarming: the official cause of death was signed off by someone who was not the actual coroner. The real coroner did not sign her case.

Whoever signed her paperwork listed her death as “medical,” even though my sister had just been with her the night before, and they had a doctor’s appointment the week before where she was stable. There was no medical condition that would have caused her sudden death — especially not in the violent and unnatural position she was found in.

This makes us even more concerned that something was not handled correctly and that the truth about what happened to our mother is being covered up or ignored.

We are raising funds to help with:

• Funeral and burial expenses

• Legal support as we seek justice

• Any additional costs that come as we navigate this painful situation

Anything you can contribute — even a share — would mean the world to us. We want to honor her, speak her truth, and make sure this never happens to another family.

Goldwater Care located at Peoria Heights, IL 61616

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting us during this heartbreaking time.