I have been trying to deal with the loss of my Beautiful Mom, Joan, and it has been awful for me. We loved each other greatly. I have been doing good just to deal with each new day.

I am raising money for more than one, but connected, reasons. It involves her estate, which includes several storages I need to consolidate, but I also have unresolved issues surrounding her death and a violation of her - and my - rights I want answers to, so I want to raise money for legal aid in doing something about this.

As I said, we were very close. We did everything together, including selling antiques and collectibles, which had been her livelihood since before I was born. I grew up around antiques and I hung out in her shop when I was a little boy. We used to travel around and do antique and other shows together. I have great memories of our doing things together - but mainly just being close to her was the most important thing to me.

The last few years of her life her health seriously declined and she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Her business had already been suffering and she had severe financial problems. She owned her own home, which she had worked hard to obtain, a wonderful early 1900s historical home, but this had come into great disrepair. Problems started compounding for us, and I had come to be her full time care giver, which was made even more difficult with the financial problems and just trying to survive. We still were going to shows together and trying to manage merchandise in a number of antique malls, but things were just becoming more and more difficult.

It was at the point where I mostly had to just take care of her, not having the time to take care of other things. We were both overwhelmed and I was struggling to adapt to my mom - who had always been do independent and strong - not being able to get around anymore and be entirely dependent on me. Though she had physical health issues, her mind was still very sharp and I knew she was frustrated with the situation.

With all of this going on, and something else always seeming to come up, our living situation got worse. We were barely getting by and things were in disrepair. We were still trying to deal with things and figure out a solution - in fact, mom was laying in bed and writing down lists of merchandise and how to organize things.

There was a neighbor we had befriended - an older man who was aware of our having difficulties and seemingly concerned about my mom. Though I had become friends with him and was on generally good terms, I often did not like his overly opinionated, and sometimes imposing, attitude. I suppose he looked at himself as a helper for me and my mom, and father figure towards me, but I had reservations about him.

One day - and I had not talked to this man for several days due to a mostly one-sided disagreement on his end - there was a loud banging on our door and him yelling to answer him. Mom and I were both not feeling well that day, having some kind of bad cold. I hesitated to get to the door, but finally, after him loudly knocking and finally threatening to call the police, I went to answer.

When I got there he was no longer at the door. I went outside calling his name, and finally found him around the other side of the building, standing across the street. I asked him if he had seriously called the cops, and he confirmed that he had and was standing there waiting for them. I asked why he had done this, and told him mom and I were resting and trying to get better; however, I didn't have any time to continue before two police vehicles turned the corner. He seemed very smug about it all and stood there waiting for the police.

I ended up telling the police officers that things were okay, that mom and I were just not feeling well that day, there was no need to be concerned and that I could go get her to talk with them. They said they had to come into the house and do a wellness check; despite my protests, they ended up coming around to the back door wanting to come inside. Though I still tried to tell the officer to wait and I would get her, the officer ended up forcing himself inside and proceeded into the house. I know my behavior was making him suspicious, but I knew that the house was a mess and them not being aware of my mom's Parkinson's condition, they would think the worse and I would be blamed for everything. But this was our home and our property; we were doing nothing wrong - just trying to live our lives.

I wanted to be able to stop them, but I knew I had to comply in order to not make things worse for my mom - of whom I was thinking of while this chaos was happening. Mom had no idea what was happening - calling my name and wondering what was going on. She was obviously worried about me. The main police officer that interrogated me went and talked to her while I was held outside with the other officer. I was in a state of great stress - worried about mom and what was going to happen to us. This was the worst day of my life; I felt so helpless and like we were under attack. One moment mom and I were just resting and trying to get feeling better, and then our whole lives were completely turned upside down. I was in utter despair.

From this point, I was arrested and charged with abuse of an elder / negligence. I was sat in the back of a police vehicle; all the while mom had been asking about me and wondering if I was alright. She didn't know what was going on or why. It was extremely unfair what was done to us; I was in the position of feeling like I wasn't able to protect my mom or our property, and at the same time being looked at as the bad guy. My mother had no problem with me; in fact, she was more concerned about my wellbeing than anything else. I was not doing anything to hurt my mom - she was the most important thing in the world and we were doing our best to just get by. We had always gone through everything together and we were still just trying to live our lives through what we were dealing with.

Mom ended up in an assisted living, Capitol Hill Senior Living. Over the course of about 3 1/2 years, I had to fight the charges against me and handle my mother being in a facility against her will. During this time I was demonized by the people in power - in the assisted living and others. We tried to figure a way out of the mess; what to do about our house, lack of finances, dealing with her health issues and trying to get her out of there; all the while I had charges against me and finally a probation from taking a plea deal - which I fought to not have to do. Very importantly, mom was totally against what happened to the both of us, and she wrote letters protesting what happened and in support of me. She said that I did a good job of caring for her and had done nothing wrong.

And it is true - we loved each other greatly and just wanted our lives back.

A little over 2 years ago, we were finally forced to sell her house, after attempts to find another way out. Capitol Hill ended up threatening to evict her and she would lose her house. It was utterly heartless; after everything we went through, and even having people in this facility saying how much they liked my mom and knowing what an incredible woman she was. But I knew how I had been treated there, by a number of the staff, as someone to not take seriously and who was negligent - no matter how mom and I protested this, and it could be seen how much we loved each other.

With the funds from the sale of the house, we ended up going on a search for a new home, with the hopes of getting her out of assisted living and being together again. We spent a number of months trying to find a good place, where she could be cared for properly and something we could both be happy with. After much work - mom and I were out looking at places together during the day - we finally found and closed on a house. Mom never made it out of assisted living. She had just started getting worse over a period of a week or so - noticeably having periods of disorientation and probable small strokes. Mom passed away on July 15, 2023, only about two weeks after we closed on our new house.

I was a wreck - and have struggled ever since mom died. I was right in front of her when she passed away. This truly is the worst day in my life; my mom whom I loved so much and who cared for me more than anything - thought of me no matter what health issues and problems of her own she had - was no longer alive. I could not imagine it. And I was heartbroken to not have the chance to be with her again and take care of her in the nice home we had found. I was alone.

I actually tried to get medical care for mom before she died that I think could have made a difference. She ended up with a bed sore, as well, and I attempted to get her to a hospital but was denied because of not having the authorization, which was given to my sister while I was away from my mom's side. There were things that were not done as they should have been at Capitol Hill Senior Living, and I had an uphill battle much of the time just to speak up on behalf of mom.

I have faced the last several months trying to adapt to being on my own. I have been under great duress and still frustrated with what happened to us.

As mentioned, I have been trying to handle several storages of antiques and personal belongings. I have made progress, but have much work still to do. I ended up buying a storage container to put stuff in. After the purchase of our home, I have had expenses coming up that have taken most of the rest of the money. This includes the largest amount I gave to my sister, to help her out and her beloved cat who just passed away. I followed my mom's wishes to give my sister money, but that, plus other expenses, has nearly left me broke.

I have been absolutely overwhelmed and decided I need help. I ask for help to handle these storages and get better situated, and legal recourse. Not just for me - for the Honor of my Mom. Our love IS truly special. Thank you.