Two years ago, my life was forever changed. I received a call that no parent should ever have to hear: my daughter was in a coma and hospitalized in Texas, far from where I live in Colorado with my two other adult children. My sister promised to keep me updated, but without the funds to travel, I could only wait in agony. My hope dwindled as my eldest daughter sent me a photo of my daughter unconscious in a hospital bed, with doctors saying she likely wouldn’t wake up. In the end, my mother made the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support. I later learned that a memorial service had been held without my knowledge.
My daughter had a tough life. As a teenager, she’d fallen into drugs and a dangerous lifestyle, spending time on the streets and in and out of jail. She had a daughter, who was being raised by her grandmother, and though my daughter tried to straighten out for a while, her battles with addiction continued. I tried to support her without judgment, respecting her choices while hoping she’d find her way. Later, I heard that she had been working as an informant for the local police, often released from jail quickly after her arrests. But this last time was different. She wasn’t searched when they put her in the back of the squad car, and she reportedly swallowed something. Hours later, she was found unresponsive in her jail cell, eventually passing away in the hospital after attempts to revive her. I believe her death could have been prevented if she had been properly searched, but pursuing the truth requires legal help I can’t afford. It sickens me to think there might have been negligence and that no one is held accountable.
Seven months after her passing, I faced yet another loss. My mother, who had been my daughter’s rock and caregiver, passed away as well. This time, I had enough money to attend the memorial, only to find out that my mother, like my daughter, had been cremated without my knowledge. I wasn’t given any keepsake or even a necklace with their ashes, something I had hoped would bring comfort. Despite my grief, I kept my feelings toward my sister, who organized the services, under wraps, respecting my mother’s memory.
Since these losses, life has been a financial and emotional struggle. I am caring for my disabled veteran husband, whose surgeries and ongoing health issues have added to our burdens. His benefits cover essentials like the mortgage and car payments, but we often find ourselves struggling with daily expenses, food, and medical costs. While I search for remote work that fits within my limited free time, many opportunities require fees or pay very little. I never imagined I’d need help, but the pressures of grief, financial strain, and the quest for justice for my daughter have become overwhelming. Any support would help me find stability and continue providing for my family while I seek closure and justice for my daughter’s untimely passing. paypal.me/shenalm