82 yr old mother is still in morgue

Hi my name is, Yvonne Kathleen Ewing and I am trying to raise money to put my mother, Cathy (Thurma) Ewing to rest. At the present time Cathy is still at the hospital morgue. She passed away on Friday June 17th. It wasn't supposed to go this way. You see, my mother had contacted "science care" back in 2009 to be on the list as a donor of her body to be used for science. Since she was donating her remains the cost was nothing. She didn't have life insurance so this was her wish, knowing we would struggle financially if we had a traditional memorial. After doing what they do with the body the remains are cremated and sent back to the family. Pretty noble idea and what a wonderful legacy. But that is not how it went for Cathy.

After I contacted S.C. with the news of her passing I had to go through a series of questions to determine if mom qualified for the program. An intake, they called it. One of questions they asked was what she weighed at her time of death. I did not know the answer. I asked if they knew what a skeleton weighed, as that was her condition. I came to learn my mother weighed 81 lbs. It was heartbreaking. My Mother was never under 180lbs at any time in her adult life. She was also positive for COVID. Apparently, the guidelines for acceptance required the donor be at least 100lbs. This was not the case at the time my mom signed up, but sometime in 2019 that criteria changed. Admittingly, S.C. did nothing to inform their prospective donors of this change. And they cannot accept her donation. Period.

She had put aside a meager nest egg, but nowhere close to what it costs for a memorial.

So there she lays in the morgue at Santa Rosa memorial hospital. After contacting a few funeral homes to inquire what it would cost to lay her to rest, I was sincerely shocked.

I priced having her cremated hoping it was more reasonable. Ha! It is but only marginally. The service at the basic level will still run close to $3,000.00.

I cannot find any closure or begin to celebrate her life until she is settled.

I am at my wits end, and that is why I am reaching out to you for support.

I humbly and with a sincere ask that you find this cause one in which you can empathize by donating, any amount to see that my mother is put to rest with dignity and honor.

I am so very grateful that you took the time to hear my story of love. If you knew her, and some of you did, this is not what she deserved.

God bless and keep looking for His miracles they are everywhere.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A daughter in mourning.

Kathleen. aka (Babe)