Saying goodbye is hard enough

My name is Janette but most know me as Jane - the working mom with more chores than hairs on my head. I'm creating this effort to raise funds for a fellow mom. A cancer surviving neighbor who had thought tough times were behind her. We live in Hermosa. A middle class blue collar neighborhood just west of Logan Square. We are known as the birthplace of Schwinn bicycles and The Disney House. We are home to many parks and families. Families that have called this Chicago nook home for many years. Unfortunately, like most neighborhoods in Chicago we have seen our share of violence. This time it really knocked the air out of me and others around here. April 1st, 2017 gun violence took the life of a 15 year old boy walking to the store. He was struck fatally in some unseen turf war. He was struck twice and his mother had to make the heart wrenching decision to remove him from life support shortly thereafter. His sister 1 year his senior is torn to pieces. This young man- whom I've seen grow up, used to play with my children in the yard. They played school and read books. Made up games and climb trees. He used to kick the ball back and forth with my little guy despite the 8 year age difference. He had a crush on my eldest daughter a few years back. Helped me carry in groceries. Helped catch my dog when he got out (often). He helped me and my good friend in our gardens. He said hello to my children everytime even if he saw them 20x a day. All this while side by side with his sis. Some thought they were twins the way they were never apart! He was never loud or rude. Always calm and collected. He was respectful and genuine. He was a kind quiet soul that God called home too soon. What's left? A sad community. A community in fear. A family fearing retaliation. A single mom with a funeral to plan. For many of us living check to check is tough. For her, well, she lives day to day. Odd jobs to make end meets. 80 hour weeks to care for her two teenagers. Two teenagers down to 1. A sad sister who is already at a tender age. A mother who is physically ill due to the stress. She needs some help, World. Please help me help her. I had to tell my children yesterday their friend was killed. I had to hold a sobbing little 6 year old boy who couldn't understand. I had to look my 8 year old in the eye and tell her it's okay to cry. I had to remind my 13 year old this is the reason she's not allowed to walk outside without an adult. I had to apologize to my 3 elementary school children for them ever knowing anyone lost to gun violence. I cried when I heard the news. After the news. Everytime I filled someone else in on the news. Before I told my children, as I told them and now as I write this because all that's left is a broken mother who is feeling helpless and has lost her baby boy. We can help. I know we can. It would mean the world to our community knowing we were able to help someone in the toughest of tough situations. I promise to provide updates. I promise to share as much info as Mom allows me to. I promise to comfort her in anyway I can. Please! I can't imagine myself- who believes in the unseen having to make a decision to pull the plug on my child when in the back of my mind I'm praying for a miracle. She had to do that. Let's help her give her son a proper 'See you later, Son.' Thank you for reading. Thank you.