Help Nataliah Overcome Grief and Financial Strain

Hello friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

My name is Nataliah, and I’m reaching out for support during a time that has been both transformative and deeply challenging. Recently, I lost my adoptive mother, Mary, the woman who raised me. Her passing has brought forward complex layers of grief, memories, and unexpected responsibilities. Growing up, our relationship was often difficult, shaped by the unresolved pain she carried from her own past. Yet, in her passing, I found a new sense of connection with her, one I had longed for my entire life. For the first time, I feel truly like her daughter, and I’m determined to honor her memory with love and compassion.

The journey to say goodbye to her brought significant expenses I couldn’t have prepared for. I did everything I could to honor her in death, traveling across the country to ensure her remains were cared for with dignity. Between final costs, travel, and lodging, as well as daily expenses during the trip, I am now facing over $4,500 in debt—an amount that is overwhelming on my limited income.

As some of you may know, I am psychiatrically disabled due to the experiences of my past and currently run Flufflepuff Rabbit Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to giving abandoned rabbits a second chance. My monthly income is modest, usually around $600-700, and my husband, who works in aviation, has been impacted by recent strikes in Wichita, KS. These expenses came at a time when we were already stretched thin.

During this journey, I’ve faced deep feelings of abandonment and loneliness, which have only been intensified by my mother’s passing. Our relationship was complicated, marked by love but also by pain. Now, as I grieve, I am facing this loss without the support of other ‘adult’ family members from my childhood. Even my father, Bob, has forsaken me. This has been a profoundly isolating experience, and each day brings new challenges, both emotionally and financially.

This has been a journey of reflection, growth, and resilience, and though it’s difficult to ask, I am hoping to find support from my community to help me carry this financial weight. Every little bit will help ease this burden and allow me to focus on healing, both for myself and for the animals in my care who depend on me every day.

If you’re able to contribute, know that your generosity is not only helping with these immediate costs but also giving me a sense of connection and compassion in this time of need. If you can’t donate, sharing this page would mean the world to me, too.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering my story and for being a part of my journey, even if just by reading this. Your kindness means more than words can express.

My mother, Mary Franz, passed away in her sleep a little over a week ago in Spokane, WA. She was known as Mary Jones for 20 years of marriage in Wichita, KS.

With love and gratitude,

Mary’s Daughter,

Nataliah Bannon