My name is Michael Shelton, and I'm starting this fundraiser for my mom, Sara Shelton.
For as long as I can remember, my mom has been someone who puts others before herself. She has spent her life helping people through her faith, ministry, and work as a marriage and family therapist. Now, after years of medical complications and surgeries, our family finds itself in a position we never imagined we'd be in.
We're asking for help so my mom can receive the care she needs without my parents constantly worrying about how to afford it.
A Life of Faith, Ministry, and Helping Others
My mom's story began on the mission field in Papua New Guinea, where she was born and lived until she was 16 years old. That upbringing shaped her faith and heart for serving others.
My parents later served together in ministry, mission work, and recovery work, helping others and sharing their faith.
As a licensed marriage and family therapist, my mom has dedicated her career to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate some of life's most difficult challenges. She has also been actively involved in the women's ministry at church, including teaching a women's Bible class.
Before her health began to decline, my mom lived a full and busy life. She spent her days meeting with clients, serving at church, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying date nights with my dad. They loved getting out of the house together and traveling to Oklahoma to visit my grandparents and help on their farm.
Today, even those simple things have become difficult.
How One Surgery Changed Everything
In December 2024, my mom underwent what we were told would be a routine neck surgery to repair a herniated disc and relieve severe pain traveling down her arm.
We hoped the procedure would bring much-needed relief. Instead, it began a series of serious medical challenges.
After surgery, she struggled to swallow solid foods and couldn't take medications without crushing them. She also experienced a severe allergic reaction to her neck brace.
More significantly, she lost the ability to empty her bladder on her own.
Since then, she has undergone numerous procedures, including the placement of a suprapubic catheter and eventually a bladder stimulator implant. Unfortunately, the stimulator hasn't provided the relief we hoped for. She still has to catheterize herself eight to ten times every single day.
She has also undergone additional bladder surgeries, including surgery to repair a prolapsed bladder.
And the original neck pain never truly went away.
About six months after the first surgery, she needed another operation on her neck. She has continued dealing with significant pain and is preparing for a spinal neurostimulator in hopes of finally finding some relief.
On top of everything else, she has experienced ongoing migraines since her original neck surgery, with some level of headache pain nearly constantly.
She has also endured a shoulder replacement after complications from an earlier shoulder surgery required two additional repair operations.
My dad estimates that my mom has been under anesthesia approximately 20 to 25 times over the past four years.
It seems like every time she begins to recover from one procedure, another medical challenge arises.
The Life She's Missing
One of the hardest parts hasn't just been watching my mom suffer. It's been seeing how much of her everyday life she's had to give up.
My mom used to be active, outgoing, and constantly involved in helping other people. Now, there are days when simply moving around the house is a struggle.
She can't stand long enough to wash the dishes or complete ordinary household tasks without experiencing pain, balance problems, and exhaustion. She often needs a cane to walk and struggles with driving and maintaining her independence.
Things my parents once took for granted, like going out for dinner, visiting family, attending church, or seeing friends, have become difficult or impossible.
My dad recently shared that one of the hardest things for her has been missing so much time with the people she loves and the church community that means so much to her.
They haven't even been able to make their usual trip to visit my grandparents in Oklahoma for about a year.
It's heartbreaking to see someone who has spent so much of her life being there for others now struggle to do the simplest things for herself.
Her Faith Through It All
Through everything, my mom's faith continues to amaze our family.
Despite the pain, setbacks, unanswered questions, and uncertainty about what comes next, she continues to trust God.
My dad has described watching her faith throughout this experience as amazing. Even on the hardest days, when her body seems to be failing her, she continues to hold on to that trust.
That doesn't mean this journey has been easy.
My dad has watched the woman he loves go from someone who was always busy, independent, and caring for others to someone who sometimes struggles just to make it through the day.
He has done everything he can to care for her while continuing to work and provide for their household. Family members have stepped in to help whenever possible, but the emotional, physical, and financial strain has been overwhelming.
Their faith remains a source of strength, even when they don't understand why this has happened.
The Growing Financial Burden
Despite everything, my mom has tried to keep working as a marriage and family therapist because she genuinely loves helping people.
Her health has made maintaining a consistent workload nearly impossible.
Between the surgeries, chronic pain, fatigue, migraines, medical appointments, and the need to catheterize throughout the day, she simply cannot take on the number of clients she once could.
Yet, because of the growing financial burden, she feels pressure to keep working more than her body can reasonably handle.
My parents have exhausted their savings trying to cover medical expenses and everyday bills.
They are currently facing outstanding medical bills, along with a monthly financial shortfall due to her inability to work regularly.
My dad's insurance through work doesn't cover all the specialists, therapies, and medications my mom needs. Some of her prescribed medications would cost between $500 and $1,000 per month, and they've had to go without them simply because they couldn't afford the cost.
With another insurance deductible coming in January, they're facing even more expenses.
My mom also has ovarian cysts that doctors are considering removing, but they've delayed that treatment to give her body more time to recover from everything else.
Meanwhile, household expenses and necessary repairs haven't stopped. Between medical bills, reduced income, and rising costs, my parents are struggling to keep up.
Why We're Asking for Help
My parents have spent much of their lives serving and caring for others, whether through involvement in the church or my mom's career helping families, first as a special education teacher for 18 years and now as a therapist.
Now, our family is asking for help.
Donations will go toward outstanding medical bills, ongoing treatments, specialist appointments, medications, future medical procedures, and essential household expenses while my mom continues her recovery.
More than anything, we want to relieve some of the financial pressure so my mom doesn't feel like she has to push herself beyond her physical limits to help pay the bills.
We want her to have the opportunity to rest, heal, attend church, spend time with family, and hopefully enjoy some of the simple things she has missed so much.
We know we cannot undo everything she's been through, but with the kindness and generosity of others, we're hoping to make the road ahead a little easier for both of my parents.
A Message From My Dad
I wanted to include something from my dad, Jon, because he has been beside my mom through all of this, and I think his perspective says more than I ever could.
From Jon:
"Watching Sara go through all of this has been one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. I've watched my wife go from a vibrant, outgoing woman who was always helping others to someone who, on some days, struggles just to move around the house.
It's difficult to watch someone you love suffer and know there is only so much you can do to help. Through all of this, I've had to learn to trust God with the things I cannot control. Sara's faith has been incredible to witness, even in the middle of everything she is going through.
More than anything, I want my wife to have the opportunity to heal, to enjoy life again, and to spend time with the people she loves without feeling like she has to sacrifice her health just to keep us financially afloat.
I miss the simple things we used to do together, and I hope and pray that one day we can enjoy more of those moments again."
How You Can Help
If you're in a position to donate, any amount would mean so much to our family. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps relieve some of the burden my parents have been carrying.
If you're unable to give financially, we would be incredibly grateful if you would share this fundraiser and keep my mom and our family in your prayers.
Our faith has carried us through some incredibly difficult moments, and we continue to trust that God will provide a way forward, even when we can't see what comes next.
Thank you for taking the time to read my mom's story, for caring about our family, and for any support you're able to offer.
With love and gratitude,
Michael Shelton and Family
