On February 13th, 2025, my mother, Stephanie Curry, passed away due to heart complications. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure when she gave birth to my 13-year-old brother, Ray. Despite the odds, she fought for 13 years—far beyond the five-year life expectancy most are given with this condition. She was strong, resilient, and always did the best she could, but the past year was incredibly hard for her financially.

Over the last six months to a year, hospital visits became a near-weekly routine. During this time, I told my mom that I would take Ray in and care for him, so she could focus on her health and get the rest she needed. I’m grateful that, if nothing else, she had the peace of knowing he would always be taken care of. My fiancé and I have now been caring for Ray and her disabled younger sister for almost a year, doing our best to keep things stable.

My mom survived on just $1,000 a month from disability, and while she always made it work, things became more difficult in her final months. Now, with Ray under my care permanently, the financial hardship is much less avoidable. I’ve always tried to be independent and hesitant to ask for help, but at this point, I’m overwhelmed. There are urgent expenses that I can’t manage alone, and I’m reaching out for support to keep things afloat.

The funds raised will go toward:

• Grief counseling and talk therapy for Ray - Mom always wanted to get Ray into a continued talk therapy so he’d have a professional outlet to get his thoughts out to.

• Ray’s Eye Care – He needs an updated eye exam, new glasses, and a visit to a specialist for a condition his eyes have. My mom could never remember the name of it, but I need to get him proper care.

• Ray’s extracurriculars - Ray plays sports and it would be nice to be able to help him get some of the lessons, memberships or equipment he may need.

• Moving Expenses – I have to move my mom’s belongings, place cherished items in storage, and go through everything carefully.

• Funeral & Memorial Costs – Assistance in covering the necessary arrangements.

• Financial Support During This Transition – I’ve already lost jobs over the past year due to missing work to care for my mom and family. With her passing, I need to take time off to handle arrangements, relocate her home, and adjust to being Ray’s full-time guardian.

Becoming a guardian to a teenager, being there for my mom, and trying to stay financially stable through all of this has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I refuse to let Ray fall through the cracks. He deserves stability, love, and everything my mom wanted for him.

Any amount, no matter how small, would mean the world to us. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this. Thank you for your support, love, and kindness during this incredibly difficult time.