Help LeLaina Heal: Surgery & Recovery Fund & Support Signup

We are hoping to raise $15,000 to support LeLaina through a temporary period of financial and medical need. We're also looking for support with meals, housecleaning, kiddo support, and visits with LeLaina. You can donate via PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp, or sign up to help on the calendar. Aug 7 update: Dear friends, As LeLaina is working hard at her new job alongside parenting, this is her friend Jen writing to share an update for her… First, thank you to everyone for all the support you have shown for LeLaina during this difficult time. Your financial support has made it possible to cover essential expenses (rent, utilities, health insurance, groceries, gas, etc.) allowing LeLaina to focus on recovery. Thanks to you we have raised 40% of the total goal of $15,000! Let’s help get her all the way there. 💗 I’m glad to report that the surgery was a success and LeLaina is healthy & recovering well! She was able to start her new job about 5 weeks ago and is deep in the transition to being a full time working Mom, orienting herself to a new clinical setting and Zora to the first week of 5th grade! While LeLaina is on the way to financial stability with this new job, there is a lag time between the training and orientation process and the steady paychecks. Because this is contract work, she gets paid only after completing assessments. Now is the crunch time and our community support is needed to create the bridge. Any amount helps. Perhaps you can give $25, $50, $150 and ask 2 friends to do the same? Thank you for considering! (You can donate via the venmo, cash app and paypal links on this page) In loving solidarity Jen -- LeLaina underwent major surgery on June 16th. While this surgery was necessary for her long-term health, it came at a difficult time—emotionally, logistically, and financially. LeLaina is a dedicated parent to her daughter, Zora, and has been navigating an incredibly challenging year as a single parent, all while managing her own health and financial instability. The road back to psychology practice has been long and challenging. She has been working temporary contract jobs while navigating the steps of license reinstatement, and has gone through periods of little to no income while needing to be present for her kiddo through some tough times. Every dollar right now is stretched thin. Insurance covers some but not all of the surgical and hospital costs. Her monthly premium is already $513 because ACA subsidies were not renewed, and out-of-pocket costs for surgery, anesthesia, facility fees, and post-op care are expected to be $8,000. Additionally, LeLaina needed 6 to 8 weeks of recovery after surgery. A new contract position was been delayed because of the surgery date. Funds raised here will go toward: - Surgery-related medical bills (hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist, follow-up visits) - Everyday living expenses (rent, utilities, groceries) during recovery - Therapy copays - Emergency buffer for unexpected needs during recovery Any amount helps. Even sharing this campaign makes a difference. Looking ahead: LeLaina has secured a contract position but her pay has been delayed due to policies with the new employer. She also has plans for building her private practice for psychotherapy and spiritual direction. Because of this, income has still not started to flow in. This fundraiser is not about forever. It's about bridging the gap between surgery and stability. She has a path forward. We're just helping her get to those opportunities. In addition, LeLaina welcomes visits, meals, texts, calls, and folks to hang with Zora after she comes back from her time with her dad in Maryland in mid-July! LeLaina has been holding so much alone. This is an invitation to help hold some of it with her. Updates will be posted here regularly.