Support the Gerhardt Family After Their Loss

Hi! My name is Amelia Schultz. I am starting this GoFundMe to help my friend, Emily Gerhardt, cope with the tragic loss of her wife, Rachel, while she continues to care for their children.

After a tumultuous & painful 18 months, Rachel lost her battle with mental illness on December 21. She has left behind Emily, Harper (8), and Lynden (5). Harper & Lynden were the joy of Rachel’s life, and her death has left an unfathomable hole in their young lives.

Emily is currently in her fourth year of graduate school completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. During this time, Rachel has been the sole income for her family. Without her, they are in an uncertain spot right now as they navigate the stark reality of a life without Rachel.

There is no amount of money that can be raised or material comforts that could replace the loss of Harper & Lynden’s Mama, but providing a buffer & emergency fund for the Gerhardt family to give peace of mind for Emily would be amazing.

I have had the good fortune of getting to know Emily and her family through our school community, and Harper is a treasured friend to our son, Owen. There is nothing we can do now to comfort Rachel or ease her pain, but I know one thing - when Rachel lost her fight on December 21, she never intended for Emily, Harper & Lynden to struggle. Her love for her family was unwavering, and the way we can honor her now is by taking care of them the best we can as they heal.

I know they are going to have a long challenging road ahead coping with the new reality of life without their Mama’s love. Through this page, I'm hoping to help ease the financial burdens that lay ahead for Emily & the kids. This money will help catch up on bills that have accumulated over the past 18 months, restore a savings buffer, and assist with mortgage payments and day-to-day living expenses.