Friends,

This is difficult to write, but we have an important opportunity to support our beloved Gillian, Grace, and Lily Warmkessel in their time of need.

On August 10, after 34 years together and 25 years as parents, Jeff moved out of the family home, abandoning Gillian and their two disabled adult daughters. He took all his belongings and leased an apartment across the island. He controls the family's finances and Gillian has no money of her own. It is critically important that she secure financial and practical support for herself and their daughters going forward. Since he moved, Jeff has barely seen Grace and Lily, and has denied Gillian the ability to hire help. He has also made it clear that when the family relocates to Oregon next year—a move he himself arranged with his employer so they could stay together—he will not be coming.

In Gillian’s own words:

“I am a giver. The challenge is that since my breast cancer, my immune system suffered greatly and my many chronic illnesses have become debilitating. I'm not able to juggle it all like I used to. I am a caregiver for our two daughters, Grace and Lily, who require more than I am capable of alone. Jeff and I were partners in that care, but now it's falling on me alone. As a family, we just survived a long and costly mold remediation—we moved through five different rentals, lost both of our elderly dogs amid the chaos, and were abandoned mid-job by a contractor who then placed a lien on our home (now resolved). Now is the obvious time for family healing and making plans for our move. Instead, I'm navigating all of this alone.”

Gillian, Grace, and Lily are all medically fragile, and Gillian is now facing significant medical, financial, and caregiving responsibilities without a partner to share them.

Right now, the most urgent need is funds for legal counsel to help Gillian understand and protect her rights and her daughters' well-being. In the coming months, the family will also need help with living expenses and the cost of relocating, since they can't remain in their current situation in Savannah.

Thanks to generous volunteers, we achieved the first part of our goal, which was to raise the $20,000 required to fund the attorney's initial retainer. We’re now raising funds to pay for the continuing legal work that will be needed and to help fund medical treatments not covered by insurance. Jeff recently cut off Gillian’s access to the family accounts and credit cards. It’s a scary time for Gillian and the girls—money is flowing out a lot faster than it’s flowing in.

Any amount helps! Just as important, knowing they're not alone will mean a great deal to Gillian and the girls as they move forward.

Thank you,

Semele Heller (acting on behalf of the many people who love and support Gillian, Grace, and Lily)