Help a Single Mother Keep Her Family Together
My name is Jessica, a single mother working more than 60 hours a week just to keep a roof over our heads while caring for two children with extraordinary needs. My daughter is a cancer survivor who has been forced to take on adult responsibilities, and my son has autism that requires constant supervision and support. Despite doing everything I can, I am exhausted, overwhelmed, and facing the heartbreaking reality that I cannot keep carrying this burden alone.
Over the years, my family has faced challenges that no parent or child should have to endure. My daughter bravely battled cancer, and although she overcame that fight, the emotional and financial impact has remained with us. My son has autism and struggles with severe behavioral challenges that require constant supervision, support, and care.
I am a nurse working in long-term care, a profession that I love because caring for others has always been my passion. However, long-term care nursing is physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. To provide for my family, I currently work four 12-hour night shifts each week from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, along with two additional day shifts every week. I work more than 60 hours a week, six days a week, just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
Because I do not qualify for assistance and cannot afford specialized childcare, my 15-year-old daughter is often left caring for her 9-year-old autistic brother while I am at work. She has already endured so much in her young life, and now she is carrying responsibilities that no teenager should have to bear. Instead of enjoying her teenage years, spending time with friends, and focusing on school, she is often responsible for managing situations that would challenge many adults.
The reality is that my son’s needs can be overwhelming. While I am at work, I receive constant phone calls and messages because of behavioral crises, meltdowns, and situations my daughter is not equipped to handle on her own. I spend my shifts worried about what is happening at home, trying to solve emergencies over the phone while caring for residents who depend on me.
Recently, while I was working, my daughter called me in a panic because my son had eloped from home and refused to come back. The Sheriff’s Department had to respond and help bring him home safely. As a nurse responsible for vulnerable residents, I couldn’t simply leave work and rush home. I was forced to stay at work while terrified for my son’s safety and heartbroken that my daughter was left to face such a frightening situation alone.
The constant chaos, fear, and responsibility have affected every part of our lives. My daughter’s mental health is suffering from the stress of caring for her brother and carrying burdens far beyond her years. I worry every day about the emotional toll this is taking on her.
The truth is that my own mental health has also reached a breaking point. I struggle with severe anxiety and depression. Most days, I survive on only about three hours of sleep. I am exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. I spend my days worrying about bills, my children’s well-being, work responsibilities, and how I am going to make it through another week.
I often feel like I am failing in every direction. When I am at work, I worry about my children. When I am home, I worry about work and finances. I am constantly being pulled in two directions, never fully able to focus on either. The stress has become overwhelming, and I feel like I am drowning under responsibilities that no one person should have to carry alone.
My children deserve more than a life spent in survival mode. They deserve stability, happiness, and a mother who can be present for them. My daughter deserves the opportunity to simply be a teenager again. My son deserves the support and supervision he needs to thrive safely. And I desperately want the chance to be the mother they need instead of spending nearly every waking hour working just to get by.
My greatest wish is to become a stay-at-home mother, or at least reduce my work hours enough to be present for my children during this critical time in their lives. I want to provide the care, attention, and stability that they need and deserve.
How Your Donation Helps
Every contribution goes directly toward creating a safer, more stable life for my children and helping our family move beyond constant crisis management.
Funds will be used for:
Rent, utilities, and essential household expenses
Food, transportation, and daily necessities
Autism-related care, supervision, and support services for my son
Mental health counseling and support for my daughter and myself
Reducing my work hours so I can be home when my children need me most
The Impact of Your Support
Your donation does more than cover expenses. It helps:
Relieve the caregiving burden placed on my teenage daughter
Provide critical support and supervision for my son
Give our family greater stability and security
Allow me to spend more time caring for my children instead of working nonstop to survive
Please Help Us Today
Asking for help is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but my family truly needs support. Any amount—large or small—will make a real difference. Your generosity can help keep our family together, give my daughter the chance to be a teenager again, and ensure my son receives the care and supervision he needs.
If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing our story. Every share helps us reach someone who may be able to help.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can provide. Your kindness, generosity, prayers, and encouragement mean more than words can express. With your help, my children can have greater stability, safety, and hope for the future.
With love and gratitude,
Jessica
