Hi family!

A dear friend of mine, Jen, has come to me in need of immediate help. Her situation is a difficult one, and despite her immense strength she needs a little bit of help right now.

Jen’s life changed very drastically when her mother died in May of 2019. She’d taken her mom to the emergency room on a Tuesday morning, and she was gone by Thursday. Overnight, Jen became the sole guardian for her disabled sister, Rose, and singularly responsible for keeping a roof over their heads.

To make matters even more difficult, just three months after their mother’s death, Rose was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer - it is only the seventh recorded case in the world. Over 75% of her liver required removal. Surgery was performed in December 2019, but just months later in March 2020, Rose was additionally diagnosed with HIV, which was and continues to be managed through medication.

Throughout these major events, my friend Jen continued to work two jobs, manage their home life, and support her sister as a caretaker and provider. Due to her conditions, Rose relies on Jen for financial resources, transportation, housing, legal decision-making, and emotional support. It is a tremendous weight for one person to bear alone. Jen has no family network to rely upon, and has literally been doing everything on her own.

Jen now spends much of her time working and trying to find resources for her sister, such as transportation and day centers. Despite the financial, emotional, and physical stress -- Jen always tries her best, because she feels that if she does not soldier on, her sister cannot possibly do the same.

Recently, Jen and Rose’s home has come under the need for major repairs Jen cannot afford, and the future of the roof over their head has become uncertain. Thus, we arrive at today’s campaign.

Jen can no longer afford her mortgage, despite working both a full-time and part-time job. Her mother was alive when it was purchased, and so in addition to losing her mother, she also lost her mother’s income for what would have been a shared home between the three.

My friend is a hard-working woman who has done the very best she can without pause, but is still struggling to make ends meet and to secure a safe place for her and her sister.

To that end, I am asking for you to consider extending some kindness towards a wonderful human being who I know would do the same for anyone in a similar situation. Jen is a gem with a big heart and solid shoulders, but even the strongest amongst us need some help sometimes.

<3

Anna