Giving a voice to the silent sufferers - Help Maree help others

THE REALITY

After a horrible series of events, Maree and her family are struggling to pay the rent, for food, pay off debt – they need our support.

BACKGROUND

At the end of 2016, Maree had her first brain surgery. However, this surgery left her with nerve damage. Nearly a year later, at the end of 2017, a few days after the second surgery to fix the nerve damage, Maree suffered a stroke. This stroke left her unable to work and put pressure on her husband's business, a business which has since gone under; Maree and her family have had to leave their home earlier this year. On top of that, a few months ago their son had to have a major spinal surgery, he is still recovering. Maree and her son are currently house sitting but that is all going to end in a couple weeks, when they will be essentially homeless.

And though this situation alone is difficult to comprehend what I found most painful was when Maree opened up to me to say that earlier this year she'd hit a low. A low so low that she was ready to give up on the world if not for her love for her son.

I felt so helpless. What could I do.

PURPOSE OF THIS PAGE

I’ve started this page to raise money for Maree and her family. But also to raise awareness of a group of people Maree calls the silent sufferers - a group she herself associates with.

MAREE’S HOPE

When Maree was in hospital, each day they would ask her to rate her pain on a scale of 0 - 10. At home after her son’s surgery, Maree herself would be the one who would ask her son how he was every day. When those around us are suffering we want to be able to help, but sometimes its not obvious whether our loved ones are suffering or what they need.

What if you could wear something that shows what state you are in, so that it doesn’t need to be said. What if you could give a voice to those silent sufferers out there. This communication aid would help to support them to have the conversation about both how they feel and to help those around them to be able to understand what they may need.

(The image at the top of the page is just my visual interpretation of her idea).

Once Maree gets back on her feet, she wants to create a product that will support the silent sufferers out there and intends on making sure there is a charity element to the idea.

However, while this idea of hers has given her a newfound sense of purpose and she will continue to work on it off her own back, Maree still needs to pay her rent, for food, pay off her debt, support her son etc. – she and her family still need to be able to get by right now.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO

All funds will go to Maree to help get her and her family back on their feet and essentially buy her some time to investigate her idea further without fear of falling behind on rent etc.

So please together lets wear our hearts out on our sleeve and support Maree, who herself needs help; but once empowered, will continue to dedicate her time to help many more out there.

If you would like to join the conversation, we are on Facebook and Instagram @itstartswithiam