I’m a mom to the most incredible 17 yr old daughter & 12 year old son. They are my world. In February of this year my fiancés son was tragically murdered. I chose to take on legal custody of his daughters, ages 1 & 2. It was an easy decision because they needed me. For 5 years I’ve been a special ed paraprofessional and only worked because it’s my passion and what I’m meant to do. I chose to leave the job I love to stay home and raise the girls. These 4 kids are my reason for breathing.

I am the mom I am because first and foremost I have the most incredible mom, she’s amazing. Motherhood has taught me that love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a choice you make every day, especially when life gets hard. It’s shown me what it really means to put others before yourself, not in a small, easy way, but in life-changing ways. It’s also taught me that family isn’t just what you’re given—it’s what you choose to hold together when everything falls apart, family doesn’t always mean blood.

It would be a tool to create stability and breathing room for my family. We lost my step grandson in August of last year and his dad in February of this year. I would use the money to provide my own children and the children I chose to make mine the life that they deserve.