Today, my world turned upside down. While on the phone with my mom, I heard her scream in a way no child ever wants to hear. In a freak accident, her two senior dogs, her babies for years.. broke out into a fight. At just 4’11 and 115 pounds, my mom tried desperately to separate them and was bitten multiple times, including nearly clean through the tip of her finger.

I stayed on the phone as I rushed to her, listening helplessly while the woman who gave me life cried out for mine. When I arrived, it was a scene no family should ever witness. Injured and heartbroken, my mom ultimately had to make the devastating decision to put both of her beloved dogs to sleep while on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance.

She is now in the hospital awaiting surgery, facing not only the grief of losing her pets but also the reality of being out of work. My mom pours concrete for a living, and this injury means she cannot provide for herself during recovery.

If you know Stacey Simmons, you know she has always given freely to others and never asked for help. For over 25 years, she’s been a part of this community, welcoming everyone into her home and heart.

Now, for the first time, she needs us. Any donation, big or small or even sharing this with others, will help ease her burden as she heals from this unimaginable tragedy