About two months ago, I was forced to step away from full-time employment to care for my daughter’s ongoing cardiac condition. Since then, our lives have been filled with countless specialist appointments, testing, hospital visits, and around-the-clock monitoring at home. Her medical needs have made it impossible for me to work enough hours to maintain a stable income and keep up with our monthly bills.

My daughter is a happy, loving 3-year-old who brightens every room she enters. No matter the cards she has been dealt, she faces every challenge with incredible courage and resilience. She continues to smile through procedures, appointments, and the uncertainty that comes with living with a complex heart condition. Her strength inspires me every day.

Unfortunately, I was denied medical leave benefits because I did not meet the required 820 work hours within the past year. After having my youngest child in April and taking time away from work for recovery and caregiving, I had only accumulated 728 hours. Because of this, our family has been left without the financial support we desperately needed during this difficult season.

This month, my daughter will undergo another heart procedure, requiring me to remain out of work while caring for her during recovery. Within the following two months, she is also scheduled to have her second open-heart surgery. As a mother, there is nowhere else I would rather be than by her side through every appointment, procedure, and recovery.

As a medical mom, I do my best to stay strong and keep a smile on my face for the little eyes that watch my every move. Right now, that is becoming increasingly difficult. We have fallen behind on our bills, and the financial stress is overwhelming on top of everything else our family is facing.

Asking for help is not easy for me. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But after exhausting the resources available to us, I simply do not know where else to turn. Any donation, no matter the amount, will help us keep a roof over our heads, catch up on essential bills, and allow me to continue caring for my daughter as she faces the surgeries and recovery ahead.

If you are unable to donate, sharing our story would mean the world to us as well.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story. Thank you for your kindness, support, prayers, and generosity during one of the most challenging times our family has ever faced.