Helping Mom

For those of y'all who don't know, my name is Natalie. My mother, Toni, is the strongest person I know but there comes a time when strength is no longer enough. She has been continuously fighting some of the world's most difficult battles and she fights them completely alone. Roughly four years ago,  my father, Doug, committed suicide, forcing my mother back into the workforce as he left us with no means to financially support ourselves. My mother had been a house wife for as long as they had been together because he said women weren't meant to work. When he died she went back to teaching. She loves teaching but about a year ago my mother was diagnosed with gynecological cancer that has gotten progressively worse over time. When she was diagnosed, I moved back home. I can no longer work as there is no one else who can do everything required to take care of her. Her restrictions are very high. She cannot lift more than a pound. She cannot stand or sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. She has spent much of the past year in and out of the hospital. She has undergone multiple major surgeries. As the medical bills continue to pile up, our small family is left feeling intense stress and strain. We are really struggling to make ends meet. Especially when very recently our only form of transportation was involved in an accident. The family car was totaled. I have no means of getting my mother to appointments or even going to the grocery store.  The cost for taking a Lyft to and from her appointments are $32 one way without including the tip. A trip to the grocery store is $8 one way without the tip. These expenses add up quickly and the only means of income we currently have is her pay through the disability insurance she took out when she started working. This payment is equal to a little less than half of what she was making before getting sick. My brother and I are the only ones in the house old enough to get jobs, but I have to take care of my mother as her insurance does not cover home Healthcare or caretakers and my brother cannot go to work because he is scheduled to leave for boot camp for the Marines within the next few weeks. Any help that you can give whether financially, sharing this post, or just through your support in these difficult times would be greatly appreciated.