Military family needs help with 5th wheel and car
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Heather. Most of you know me as Amanda's mom. I am starting this fundraiser for my daughter and 3 granddaughters in an effort to purchase a travel trailer for them to live in on my property, and car, so she can get a job after being a stay at home mom for the past several years at her husband's request. In April her husband lost his battle with mental illness and suddenly took his own life, leaving Mandy and the girls absolutely devastated. Cj spent over 10 years in the military, and while most would think a military family would have been taken care of, unfortunately to make matters worse he had not updated his paperwork after marrying my daughter 5 years ago, and over $500,000 in life insurance and death benefits went to his mother to whom he wanted almost nothing to do with if it weren't for my daughter trying to keep a relationship going between them. Apparently this is an all too common accurance, as soldiers are often young when they join, so their next of kin is usually their parents. Initially when his mother was informed of the money, she told both me, and Mandy that she really didn't even know her son, and that the money belonged to her and the girls, and she would see to it that it went to them. While I was hesitant to believe his mother, my daughter, being very trusting did. She believed they had a good relationship, and that Ronnie cared for them. She even reassured me by saying that they asked for her bank account information. Well sadly when it came down to it, and we were looking for a house to purchase, greed set in. She informed my daughter that they had purchased a new home, and would be moving out of state, and that there was no money. This was lie, as the military had already informed my daughter that the mother indeed received everything. The military even reached out to his mom and told her that Mandy and the girls were losing everything, the car, their home, their belongings as they scrambled to find a way home, but she didn't lift a finger. Now they are left with nothing, but grief, and the 4 of them trying to stay in my 1 guest room. My wish and I know Cj's wish would be to make this right, and that she would be able to atleast buy a home for her and the girls, but I know that is too much to ask, so I am hoping maybe I can at the bare minimum give her a little of her dignity back and provide her and the girls with their own space, and transportation to get around. Please if you can't donate, share her story. I know that even if this only helps other military families better prepare, it would bring some comfort to my daughter knowing that they would not have to go through the same thing that she did. Something needs to change with the system. He would have never wanted his family to struggle like this. Thank you to all of my friends, family, neighbors, and strangers alike for taking the time to read, donate and share this. Mandy is one of the most, kind, trusting, and loving people I know, so let's help her light shine again through all of this grief.
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Wilcox
Organizer
Brinnon, WA
Amanda Mews
Beneficiary