UPDATE #3: I am rushing to clear space in my home to accommodate Leslie and her dogs so she can just focus on healing. We are not strangers to making do with what you have… like when you’re a young mom who can’t afford a baby pool.. a laundry basket and garbage bag will do. We always figure it out!
Leslie is taking each day as it comes. There is the upheaval of transition from employer-sponsored insurance to Medi-Cal, which changes providers and delays treatment/monitoring of the new medications and side effects. She’s discouraged but not defeated. We are planning to wrap up donations in the next few weeks and humbly ask for any help from those who the algorithm may have missed and encourage everyone to share in your circles. Abundant gratitude to everyone who took the time to share this fundraiser or contribute in any way. Every positive thought matters. Thank you… for sharing. Dollars, thoughts, prayers, words of affirmation… we see you and love you and are so lucky to have you in our lives.
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Leslie has always been a caregiver, dedicating her adult life to supporting others both professionally and personally. She has cared for the elderly in assisted living and memory care, helped adults with disabilities live independently, and even left her job to provide hospice care for her uncle so he could pass away peacefully at home. Leslie also rescues animals, especially those with special needs, and finds them loving homes. Fiercely independent and a passionate advocate, she has spent the last several years as a housing navigator, helping people escape domestic violence and supporting unhoused elderly in her community.
In the past year, Leslie began to experience significant physical and mental health challenges. The journey to diagnosis and treatment has been difficult, with medications causing severe side effects. Despite feeling herself slipping away, Leslie continued to be the go-to caregiver for her friends and family, always putting others first. This weekend, she reached her limit and was hospitalized for emergency mental health treatment. She now has a strong support system, but she’s had to leave her job, losing her insurance and falling behind on rent and car payments. Her car is unregistered and uninsured, and she is facing the possibility of losing her home and transportation.
My goal is to move Leslie home for at least six months, catch up on her past due bills, and give her a real chance to recover and rebuild. Her doctor has recommended temporary disability so she can focus on her mental health. The funds raised will go directly toward her rent, car payments, registration, and insurance, helping her regain stability and hope for the future. Ever since Leslie was little, we have always counted on our village to help us through the tough parts. It’s never easy to ask for help, especially when it comes to mental health, but we believe it’s important to destigmatize these conversations and emphasize the need for self-care. At this point, we truly appreciate anything anyone is able to spare.