A Parents Worst Nightmare: Why I’m Asking for Help—for My Sister and Niece
A Parents Worst Nightmare: Why I’m Asking for Help—for My Sister and Niece
It was late Tuesday night when I got the call.
One of those calls that shatters the rhythm of an ordinary day. The kind that steals your breath and leaves your thoughts racing ahead of your body.
My 11-year-old niece Claire had been hit by a car while riding her scooter.
She was unresponsive. They were rushing her to the local hospital, and the doctors quickly made the call to life-flight her to Akron Children’s Hospital. That alone said everything. You don’t put a child in a helicopter unless the situation is critical.
By the time I got in the car to go from Pittsburgh to Akron, I was praying harder than I’ve prayed in years. The kind of desperate, raw prayer that bypasses eloquence and goes straight to the heart of God. “Please let her live. Please.”
Watching a Miracle Unfold
When we got to Akron, Claire was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit—sedated, intubated, completely still.
She had suffered a small brain bleed, a broken collarbone, and multiple fractures in her left leg. The team told us they were monitoring a possible lung issue. No emergency surgery was needed, which felt like the first answer to prayer.
And then, quietly and slowly, the next one came.
Claire began to respond to commands—squeezing a nurse’s hand, blinking her eyes. It was faint, but it was something. We all felt it: the tiniest flicker of hope beginning to push back the darkness.
Surgery and Small Victories
The next morning, Claire underwent surgery on her leg. It was a serious procedure—seven screws placed to stabilize the damage. But she made it through. The surgery was successful.
She’s still in the ICU. Still facing a long road to recovery. But she’s here. She’s alive. And she’s fighting.
There’s not much that prepares you for seeing a child you love in that condition. But there’s also nothing that compares to the gratitude you feel when they start to come back to you—even just a little bit.
A Single Mom Doing Her Best
While Claire’s story has captured the focus, there’s another piece of this that’s equally urgent—and it’s why I’m writing this.
Her mom, my sister Ashley, is one of the strongest women I know. A single mom who has navigated the last few years with grit, love, and quiet courage.
Since COVID, Ashley’s professional life has been anything but stable. She’s been in and out of roles, trying to find something steady enough to support her family. Just before the accident, she was in between jobs, actively searching for her next opportunity.
That search is now on hold.
Ashley will be caring for Claire full-time over the next several months—attending therapy appointments, monitoring recovery, advocating for her daughter’s needs.
There’s no PTO. No benefits. No income. Just a mom doing everything she can to show up for her child in the hardest season of their lives.
Why I’m Asking for Help
I’ve built a life and a brand around giving—offering value, creating community, coaching visionaries, showing up with my whole heart. And I believe generosity is a two-way street.
Now, I’m asking for something in return—not for me, but for my sister and my niece.
One of Ashley’s friends saw the situation and started a GoFundMe to help relieve some of the financial pressure.
The goal is to cover a few months of living expenses, travel to and from the hospital, and out-of-pocket medical costs—so Ashley can focus on Claire, without worrying how the bills are going to get paid.
And here’s what I’m asking of you:
If I’ve ever given you something of value—through a conversation, a coaching call, a podcast, a connection, or a post that made you think differently—please consider paying it forward today.
Or if you’re simply someone who believes in helping people when they’re down, I’d be honored if you’d consider being part of this.
Here’s How You Can Help
🟡 Donate:
No amount is too small. Every single dollar helps.
🟡 Share the link:
With your network, in your group chats, in your stories.
If you don’t have the ability to give, amplifying this helps more than you know.
🟡 Pray:
For Claire’s continued healing, for Ashley’s strength, and for peace over their home. God’s already moved mightily—we’re believing for even more.
A Final Word
Claire is still in the hospital. Ashley is still figuring it out. But the worst night of our lives has already turned into something sacred: a reminder of how fragile life is… and how powerful community can be.
So whether you give $5, $500, or just share the link—thank you.
You’re part of something real.
You’re helping rewrite this story with hope. 🙏
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