Help Bring My Mother Home - Kim Reed Howlett

On October 25th my mom, Kim Howlett, left our home in Washington to visit a longtime family friend; a trip she had been wanting to take for months. She was a diabetic with congestive heart failure, who had recently had all her toes on her right foot amputated. All her doctors were saying she was making a wonderful recovery and could travel safely.

 On October 28th, at 9:05 in the morning, I received the most devastating call of my life:

 She had stopped breathing and passed out. Her friend had begun CPR and was awaiting the arrival of the paramedics. Within ten minutes the paramedics had arrived and taken over CPR. She was unresponsive to CPR for almost an hour; she had a defibrillator implanted for just such a situation but it didn’t go off.  

 She was medically unresponsive and declared dead after an hour of CPR. I had to listen helplessly to the phone while all of this happened. Now all I want to do is follow her wishes by having her cremated so I can bring her home to Washington State from Charleston, SC.

 I would love to be able to go and retrieve her ashes so that she doesn't have to travel alone in a box, or possibly get lost  in the mail. We also want to hold a Memorial with her family in California so they can say goodbye.

 I am asking for assistance paying for the travel expenses for my trip to Charleston and then for our family’s trip from Washington State to California.

 Our costs will include:

Getting me to Charleston South Carolina and back.

Covering my necessary expenses while I deal with things there.

Paying for Cremation in South Carolina and any other currently unknown expenses directly associated with her passing.

Taking all four of us from Washington State to California and back for the family memorial service.

 Any money left over would go to helping cover our other expenses in this trying time. I know this is a big ask but I am a Teacher’s Assistant and unfortunately I have just become the sole income for a household of four. I and my whole family appreciate any and all help.

If you can’t help financially, please consider sharing this link on your social media.