Dear Friends and Family, Today, I'm seeking your generous support for my dear cousin, Alexis, who is going through an incredibly challenging time in her life. For those of us who cherish our memories of summers at Beaver Island with family, we've known Alexis to have been a devoted and loving mother to her children. After the tragic passing of her beloved husband Nick Kendall (the father of her two children, Tristan and Kipton) in 2015, Alexis was left traumatized and heartbroken as a widow to navigate a way forward for her family. She moved to Illinois with the children not long after Nick's death where she struggled to mend her broken heart. Years passed and she brought new life into the world with a boyfriend. Their son Maddx is now 2 years old. Sadly, due to the nature of that relationship, their shared struggles with substances and numerous tragic events, an intervention has occurred and her children have been taken out of her care by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). This has left her feeling lost, shameful, devastated, and desperate to rebuild her life and reunite with her children. To avoid mincing words, Alexis and her boyfriend overdosed on opiates in April. Since the event, she has been clean and sober, attending therapy, domestic violence support groups and her bi-weekly visitations with her kids, where they try to make the most of the short periods they have together. The circumstances leading to this difficult situation have been overwhelming for Alexis. Due to the stigma and self-punishment she's experiencing, Alexis needs the support of family and generous hearts right now. She is facing dire financial struggles, which are now resulting in the loss of her home. Without financial support, she is on the verge of homelessness. The absence of reliable transportation has further exacerbated her challenges, making it difficult for her to secure a new housing situation, a job, or attend crucial appointments that will lead her toward retaining custody of her children. We, as her extended family, cannot stand by and watch her face these hardships alone. Alexis needs our love, support, and financial assistance urgently - to create a stable and loving environment for her children and rebuild their lives together. Your contributions to this emergency support fund will be vital in helping Alexis achieve the following: Secure New Housing: Your donations will help enable Alexis to secure safe and stable housing for herself. A stable living situation is essential for the well-being of her family and will play a significant role in helping her regain custody. Transportation: Her car was recently repossessed because she could not pay her auto-lease payment. The lack of transportation has been a significant obstacle for Alexis. I've stepped in temporarily to cover Uber rides for critical appointments if she has no alternatives. Additional money raised will help provide her with reliable transportation for drug screenings, job interviews, and other essential appointments. Reunification Support: She has been attending 100% of her classes and appointments since the incident in April and her caseworker has lauded her dedication to the process that could ultimately lead to Alexis' reunification with her children within 6 months. However, due to her dire financial position (DCFS has taken control of Nick's death benefits), and the ongoing expenses of travel, food and effort required to secure new income, additional financial support is needed urgently. Every little bit counts, and your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a meaningful impact on Alexis's journey toward rebuilding her life and reuniting with her children. Please know that your generosity and compassion will be a beacon of hope during this extremely challenging time. If you are unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. Spreading the word will help reach a wider audience and increase the chances of meeting our fundraising goal. On behalf of Alexis and our entire family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for anything you can chip in.
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