My name is Jasmine Blackmon, a single mom doing my absolute best to raise my three beautiful babies: Harmony (10), Hailey (9), and little Harlem (5). They are my whole world, my reason for fighting through every hard day.
We’ve been through so much already. Just days ago, on January 28, we finally made it back home to Oxford after five long, freezing days in a warming shelter. The ice storm (Winter Storm Fern) knocked out our power, ruined all our groceries, and left us exhausted and scared. When the lights finally came back on, I ordered pizza to celebrate a tiny bit of normalcy. Hailey, my sweet 9-year-old, went to her room to charge her iPad—she just wanted to lie down, relax, and watch something after such a rough week.
In a heartbreaking moment, she plugged the charger into an extension cord on her pillow. It sparked violently and burned her lips and tongue so badly. I’ve always told my kids—no chargers on beds, ever, because fires can start—but after everything we’d been through, no one was thinking straight. She was just a tired little girl wanting comfort.
My heart shattered seeing her in pain. I rushed her to my neighbor (a nurse across the street), who said it looked like third-degree burns. We called 911, and the ambulance took us to Baptist in Oxford. They did what they could, but icy roads stopped any airlift or transfer. We waited in agony.
I posted in Oxford community groups, and angels stepped up—people offered rides and support. On Saturday, a kind lady drove us from Oxford to Holly Springs. From there, a precious church member took us the rest of the way to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. They admitted Hailey right away.
On Monday, February 2, surgeons carefully removed the burned tissue from her tongue and lip, then stitched everything back. Watching my baby go through surgery broke me in ways I can’t describe. She’s so brave, but she’s hurting, scared, and healing slowly. We head back to Le Bonheur on February 16 for another surgery. I’m praying with everything in me that it goes perfectly and that my girl can smile, eat, and play like before—without pain.
Right now, life feels impossible. I’ve had to leave my job to stay by Hailey’s side and care for all three kids. My car’s motor died right before the storm hit, so we have no transportation. We’ve been in Oxford five years, but it’s always just been me and my babies—no big family nearby, no strong support system to lean on.
Medical bills are piling up fast. Travel to Memphis multiple times, gas, food while we’re there, lost wages, rent, utilities, and just keeping the lights on and food in the fridge for Harmony, Harlem, and Hailey—it’s overwhelming. I’m fighting tears every day trying to hold it together for them.
If you can help in any way—even $5, a prayer, sharing this, or kind words—it would mean the absolute world. Every bit lifts this heavy burden and reminds me we’re not alone. Hailey deserves to heal fully. My babies deserve stability. And I just want to give them the safe, happy childhood they deserve.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading our story. Thank you for any love and support you can send our way. We’re holding on, one breath at a time. 🙏❤️
Goal: Help cover medical bills, upcoming surgeries/travel, lost wages, and basic family needs during recovery.
