Support for Elijah: Rebuilding After Tragedy

On Monday, February 17th, our dear friend Kandice tragically took her own life at the Galleria Mall, leaving behind five children. While the younger four have been with their father and stepmother since last year, Elijah, a 17-year-old Junior in high school, has no father in the picture, leaving him without parents. My husband Josh has always been a father figure and mentor to Elijah, and Elijah has asked to live with our family long-term as he copes with the heart-wrenching loss of his mom.

Kandice and I were more like sisters than friends, having shared over 15 years of love, laughter, arguments, and even top-notch pettiness, but we always ended up hugging it out and going out on girl nights. Elijah, who has called me "Te-Te" since he was a toddler, has always been precious to me, and he’s also my son’s best friend.

Unfortunately, Kandice didn’t have life insurance or any financial resources. While we are opening our hearts and home to Elijah, our family of five—myself, Josh, and our three children—simply doesn’t have the financial means to fully provide for him.

Elijah will be with us for at least the next couple of years, and as he navigates this unimaginable loss, we want to ensure he has the stability and support he needs to heal and thrive. Elijah has a great love for boxing, and we want to help him continue his training to resemble as much normalcy as possible.

All funds raised will be for Elijah’s well-being. We will be opening a checking and savings account in his name. The funds will help cover the costs of his mom's funeral, as well as the suit he wants to wear for her service to look his best for her. A portion will go toward purchasing a used car that fits our new family size, which will be Elijah's when he gets his license and graduates from high school, as his mother’s car is being returned to the lender. Funds will also be used for therapy to help Elijah process his devastating loss, as well as for his college expenses if he decides to pursue higher education. We will also use the funds to provide him with all his boxing gear and training to support his passion. Money will go toward his living expenses—food, clothing, hygiene products, insurance—so Elijah can focus on school, his mental health, and his boxing career without the worry of financial stress. We will be working with a financial advisor to help open a Trust/Roth IRA in his name, giving him the financial freedom that will provide peace of mind and support his mental health.

Elijah is a good kid who has faced many challenges in his young life, including becoming the man of his household at a young age after his mother’s divorce. Unfortunately, he hasn't had the chance to fully enjoy his childhood, and we want to ensure that he has the opportunity to be a kid for as long as possible before stepping into adulthood.

Elijah has seen this GoFundMe and he’s watching as you pour out your love and condolences to his family and he’s very grateful.

Please note: This is the ONLY official GoFundMe for Elijah with myself being the organizer. Any other campaigns claiming to raise money for him are not legitimate. We want to make sure your support is going directly to help Elijah during this challenging time.