**Support for Molly’s Healing and Stability After an Unimaginable Loss**

On November 24, 2005, our lives changed forever. My daughter Molly lost her father suddenly and unexpectedly at just 47 years old. Losing a parent at any age is devastating, but losing a parent as a young teen—while navigating school, friendships, and her own identity—is a level of heartbreak no child should ever have to carry.

Molly is grieving deeply, and as her mother, I am doing everything I can to protect her, support her, and give her the stability she needs as she moves through this impossible season. Along with the emotional impact, there have been immediate and unexpected practical challenges. Her father was an important part of her support system, and his passing has left significant gaps—both in the involvement he had planned to provide and the commitments he had made to her future activities.

One of Molly’s greatest sources of joy and confidence is competitive volleyball. Her upcoming season is projected to cost between **$5,000 and $7,000**, something her father was planning to contribute to but now cannot. With everything she’s facing, volleyball is one of the few places where she still lights up, and I want to make sure she doesn’t lose that too.

As many of you know, I am a therapist. My work is meaningful and important to me, but it also requires emotional presence. In order to fully support Molly through her grief and major life transitions, I will need to take time away from work—time where I cannot both counsel others and also be the steady, grounded support my daughter needs right now.

This fundraiser will help us cover:

* Molly’s volleyball season fees

* Practical support while I temporarily reduce my workload to care for her

* The unexpected costs that come with losing a parent so suddenly

I know everyone is stretched, especially during the holidays, and asking for help is not easy for me. But Molly deserves stability, care, and the chance to keep some of the good things in her life intact as she rebuilds her world.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for holding our family in your thoughts. Any support—financial or simply words of encouragement—means more than I can express.

With gratitude,

Stephanie & Molly