Help Medusa Rebuild after Tragedy

On June 29th, I got the phone call no mother ever wants to hear. My son, Conan, had willingly left this world for a better one after a long, tough battle with depression. He was a genuinely kind and caring person who had a positive effect on so many people. I just wish he knew his worth while he was here.

I would never ask for money for nothing if it wasn't absolutely necessary. At the time I got the call, we had about $130 in the bank, which wasn't even enough to cover gas and food through the week, so we relied heavily on friends and family, as well as some unexpected help from unlikely sources. I was supposed to be getting to Mobile on the 30th to work, but the call came the day before; shattering our entire world along with any hope of being able to make it through my appointments. Instead of making good money over payday weekend, the shop was closed and it was spent collecting our son's items, speaking with a detective, and making arrangements with the funeral home.

We live 3 hours away from the shop in Mobile and had just begun the process of opening a second shop in Troy so that we could work primarily closer to home. My appointments, along with the artists working, were supposed to help cover those costs along with our regular living expenses. Conan was to eventually take over the Mobile shop, and in the meantime was working and staying there when he also decided to end his life there.

It's hard enough for my artists (who were also close to him) to want to open the shop back up and go to work, but it will be even harder for my husband and I. We had been staying in the room right next to his, and I just really don't know how to manage it all right now.

I tried to think realistically about what we would need to help us through this trying time. With your generous donations, we will be able to pay for my son's cremation and memorial service, as well as cover some of the basic necessary bills and living expenses that will help give us some time to grieve and adapt to our new life without him as I try to consider easing back into work and honoring my Mobile appointments. I have 4 rents and 4 power bills due by the end of next week, and that doesn't even include the cremation and memorial expenses, along with whatever it will cost to have a clean up crew take care of the aftermath from my son's death.

When I add everything up, it will be well over what I'm asking, but I can't bring myself to ask for more. I know my son's death and my bills are no one else's responsibility, but I am certainly humbled enough at this time to ask for what I can. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to offer their love and prayers during this desperate time.