MasonStrong Support Mason's Fight For His Life.

05/23/2026

We honestly didn’t want to make another update like this.

It’s been weeks since we’ve received any donations, and if we’re being truthful, it’s been really hard emotionally. We know people have supported us for years now, and we never expected Mason’s recovery journey to take this long either. Sometimes it feels like people may have given up on us, and that hurts more than we can explain.

But the truth is, we are still fighting every single day to hold everything together.

Right now we are in a really difficult place financially while waiting for LJ’s new paychecks to start coming in. After sacrificing so much to stay home and help care for both me and Mason through our health battles, he finally started a well-paying job, and we are incredibly thankful to God for that blessing. We truly believe this is the turning point that gets our family back on our feet.

The hard part is surviving the next couple of weeks until those checks begin coming in.

Right now we are facing bills that are close to being terminated, including our water/sewer and car insurance. We also still desperately need two window AC units for Mason’s room and Lucy’s room. Temperatures here have been in the high 80s and 90s, and because the bedrooms are upstairs, the heat becomes almost unbearable at night. The kids are struggling to sleep comfortably in it.

We never wanted to need help for this long. We never wanted any of this.

Mason’s illness completely changed our lives in ways we could have never prepared for. What we thought would be temporary became years of surgeries, recovery, prosthetics, appointments, setbacks, and rebuilding our entire lives around survival and caregiving.

I work online while caring for Mason and our three-year-old Lucy full time, and anyone who knows Mason’s needs knows his care alone is a full-time job. I should be getting paid through the state to be his caretaker, but we are still stuck on a waiting list with no answers. On top of that, Mason’s SSI is still suspended while we wait for everything to be fixed, and even our tax return still hasn’t come through.

At the same time, my own health has become a serious struggle. My asthma has gotten severe enough that my pulmonologist has discussed the possibility of disability because of how much it affects my ability to function day to day. Some days I spend hours on breathing treatments and nebulizers just trying to stay out of the hospital and healthy enough to care for my children. There are days I physically cannot do the things I need or want to do for my family, and mentally that has been devastating.

LJ has carried so much through all of this. He has been both mine and Mason’s caretaker while also trying to help us survive financially, and we are exhausted in every way possible.

But despite all of this, we finally see a way forward.

For the first time in a long time, we truly believe this is our last month of struggling like this. We are so close to stability again. We just need help making it through this final stretch until income starts coming back in consistently.

Right now we don’t even have money for simple everyday things like milk, bread, groceries, gas for appointments, or getting the kids where they need to go safely. Two weeks does not sound long until you’re staring at empty cabinets and bills you cannot pay.

Coming here and asking for help is never easy for us. Honestly, it’s embarrassing and heartbreaking. GoFundMe is always our last resort, never our first option. We are tired of surviving month to month. We are tired of asking for help. We are tired of feeling like we are drowning while trying so hard to stay afloat.

But we are not giving up.

We are praying constantly for healing, for stability, and for the strength to keep going. We truly believe God is finally making a way for our family to get back on our feet again.

If you are able to help us through this last difficult stretch, no matter how small, it would mean more than we could ever express. And if you cannot donate, prayers, shares, and kind words truly matter too.

Please just don’t give up on us when we are finally so close to making it through this.

Thank you for every prayer, every donation, every share, and every ounce of kindness you’ve shown our family through the hardest years of our lives. We will never forget it.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

05/21/2026

We honestly didn’t want to make another update like this.

It’s been weeks since we’ve received any donations, and if we’re being truthful, it’s been really hard emotionally. We know people have supported us for years now, and we never expected Mason’s recovery journey to take this long either. Sometimes it feels like people may have given up on us, and that hurts more than we can explain.

But the truth is, we are still fighting every single day to hold everything together.

Right now we are in a really difficult place financially while waiting for LJ’s new paychecks to start coming in. After sacrificing so much to stay home and help care for both me and Mason through our health battles, he finally started a well-paying job, and we are incredibly thankful to God for that blessing. We truly believe this is the turning point that gets our family back on our feet.

The hard part is surviving the next couple of weeks until those checks begin coming in.

Right now we are facing bills that are close to being terminated, including our water/sewer and car insurance. We also still desperately need two window AC units for Mason’s room and Lucy’s room. Temperatures here have been in the high 80s and 90s, and because the bedrooms are upstairs, the heat becomes almost unbearable at night. The kids are struggling to sleep comfortably in it.

We never wanted to need help for this long. We never wanted any of this.

Mason’s illness completely changed our lives in ways we could have never prepared for. What we thought would be temporary became years of surgeries, recovery, prosthetics, appointments, setbacks, and rebuilding our entire lives around survival and caregiving.

I work online while caring for Mason and our three-year-old Lucy full time, and anyone who knows Mason’s needs knows his care alone is a full-time job. I should be getting paid through the state to be his caretaker, but we are still stuck on a waiting list with no answers. On top of that, Mason’s SSI is still suspended while we wait for everything to be fixed, and even our tax return still hasn’t come through.

At the same time, my own health has become a serious struggle. My asthma has gotten severe enough that my pulmonologist has discussed the possibility of disability because of how much it affects my ability to function day to day. Some days I spend hours on breathing treatments and nebulizers just trying to stay out of the hospital and healthy enough to care for my children. There are days I physically cannot do the things I need or want to do for my family, and mentally that has been devastating.

LJ has carried so much through all of this. He has been both mine and Mason’s caretaker while also trying to help us survive financially, and we are exhausted in every way possible.

But despite all of this, we finally see a way forward.

For the first time in a long time, we truly believe this is our last month of struggling like this. We are so close to stability again. We just need help making it through this final stretch until income starts coming back in consistently.

Right now we don’t even have money for simple everyday things like milk, bread, groceries, gas for appointments, or getting the kids where they need to go safely. Two weeks does not sound long until you’re staring at empty cabinets and bills you cannot pay.

Coming here and asking for help is never easy for us. Honestly, it’s embarrassing and heartbreaking. GoFundMe is always our last resort, never our first option. We are tired of surviving month to month. We are tired of asking for help. We are tired of feeling like we are drowning while trying so hard to stay afloat.

But we are not giving up.

We are praying constantly for healing, for stability, and for the strength to keep going. We truly believe God is finally making a way for our family to get back on our feet again.

If you are able to help us through this last difficult stretch, no matter how small, it would mean more than we could ever express. And if you cannot donate, prayers, shares, and kind words truly matter too.

Please just don’t give up on us when we are finally so close to making it through this.

Thank you for every prayer, every donation, every share, and every ounce of kindness you’ve shown our family through the hardest years of our lives. We will never forget it.

God bless,
The McMillan Family❤️

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/2f7c69093

❤️ CashApp: $chardizzle88

❤️PayPal: themomster88@gmail.com

Charde McMillan@topfans

05/20/2026

We are making progress with his hooks! A few more adjustments are needed but we're so close! He still needs new liners for his legs that are going to cost $1500 and we don't have any money at all right now. We are barely scraping by on our daily needs and bills are still piling up as we wait for my husband's paychecks to start rolling in. We still are in desperate need of support if anyone is able to help!

God bless,
The McMillan Family ❤️

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/026b7404c

05/17/2026

Hey everyone,

Three years later, and our lives still revolve around doctors appointments, surgeries, therapies, prosthetics, insurance battles, and trying to help Mason build a future after everything he has survived.

Some days it feels like people assume things must be “better” now because time has passed, but the truth is that Mason’s illness permanently changed all of our lives. We are still living the reality of it every single day.

This week we have another appointment with Mason’s prosthetist because the liners for his prosthetics are already worn down badly after only a few months. They are what keep his legs secure and prevent them from sliding out of his prosthetics. Unfortunately, insurance would only approve the basic liners, and they simply have not held up the way we hoped they would.

There are better quality liners available that would last longer, fit him better, and make daily life easier and safer for him in the long run, but they cost around $1,500 for a pair. Insurance will only replace liners once a year, and right now he desperately needs new ones long before that.

We are hopeful for good news about his hooks soon too. As long as there are no more setbacks in the process, we are praying they may finally be finished soon. Mason is also starting with Division of Rehabilitation this week to begin learning what entering the workforce could someday look like for him. He’s excited, nervous, and hopeful all at the same time.

He continues to amaze us every single day. Despite everything he has endured, he is still making straight A’s in school and working incredibly hard. We are endlessly proud of him.

But the truth behind the scenes is still hard.

Mason may look older physically, but because of the damage caused from life support and everything his body and brain went through, emotionally and socially he functions closer to a much younger child. We work with him constantly on understanding adulthood, independence, consequences, and daily life skills. He is brilliant, but he still struggles so much socially and emotionally. Some days are especially heartbreaking because he wants so badly to just be a typical teenager with friends, freedom, and independence.

He still depends on us for about 75% of his daily care.

We help bathe him, dress him, prepare meals, open things for him, assist with daily tasks, transportation, appointments, and major life decisions. He still has reconstructive surgeries ahead, occupational therapy to learn how to use his hooks, and years of progress still in front of him.

People often ask why it has taken us so long to get back on our feet financially, and this is why.

Caring for Mason is a full-time responsibility by itself, on top of raising our other three children. We have spent the last three years trying to survive while helping our son relearn how to live.

I’ve spent over a year trying to become his paid at-home caretaker, but the waiting list is incredibly long and we still have no answers. My husband has finally returned to work, and we are so thankful for that opportunity and hopeful for our future, but paychecks take time to come in and we are still trying to catch up after years of barely staying afloat.

We are close to stability. We really are. But we are not there yet.

Right now we are still struggling to keep up with bills, Mason’s medical needs, and basic household necessities. We also still desperately need two more window AC units before summer temperatures become unbearable. Last summer, all six of us slept together in the living room because it was the only place we could somewhat cool down, and we are trying so hard not to relive that again this year.

Every doctor Mason sees is at least two hours away from us, and surgeries often require entire days of travel, long hospital stays, and both of us being there to care for him while still somehow managing life and school schedules for our other kids at home.

We know people are probably tired of hearing about our struggles, and trust me when I say we are tired of living them. The last thing we ever wanted was to rely on donations just to survive and keep moving forward. But this has been our reality since Mason became sick.

We are trying with everything we have to rebuild our lives and become financially stable again. We are finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but we still need help getting through these next couple of months while we continue trying to catch up.

Please just don’t give up on us yet.

We have come so far after some of the darkest years of our lives, and we are fighting every single day to keep moving forward for our children and especially for Mason.

Thank you for continuing to love, pray for, and support our family through all of this. We will never be able to fully express what that kindness has meant to us.

God bless,
The McMillan Family❤️

Charde McMillanThe Alyssa HouseAkron Children'sSamuel's Supper

05/12/2026

I honestly don’t even know how to put into words how scared I am right now. Our water is scheduled to be shut off Tuesday, and I’ve spent all day trying to figure out what we’re going to do, but I’m running out of options and emotionally I just feel exhausted. Instead of enjoying Mother’s Day with my family, I’ve been sitting here panicking and trying not to break down.

The hardest part is that we’ve come so far. Because of the kindness and selflessness of so many people, we were finally starting to see a light at the end of this nightmare. My husband finally got a job, and for the first time in a long time it felt like we might actually make it out of this hole. We just need to survive long enough to get through his first couple of paychecks.

But right now, we are still drowning in the damage from months of being behind. Even though we’ve tried so hard to catch up, we still owe portions of past utility bills and rent, and now everything is hitting us at once. It feels like every time we get our heads barely above water, something else pulls us back under.

I’m tired. I’m tired of struggling every single day and feeling like no matter how hard we fight, it’s never enough. We are doing everything in our power to become financially stable again, and we truly are so close. It feels like we’re standing at the finish line, completely worn down, just needing a little more help to finally make it there.

If anyone is able to help us get through this last stretch, it would mean more than I can ever explain. Thank you for continuing to care about our family and for helping us keep going when things feel impossible.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

Gofundme: https://gofund.me/dfc934b4d

05/09/2026

Hey everyone!
In some ways, things are finally starting to look up, but we are still struggling more than most people realize behind the scenes.

After months of waiting, we recently found out Mason’s SSI case is having to be completely redone because Social Security says they lost paperwork that I turned in nearly six months ago. It has been devastating and exhausting trying to fix something that was completely out of our hands, especially while depending on that income to help keep our family afloat.

At the same time, my asthma has become increasingly severe. I’ve been on constant medications, breathing treatments, and nebulizers just to get through the day, and there are many days where it feels difficult to function normally at all. We are trying so hard to keep pushing forward, but physically and emotionally this season has taken a huge toll on us.

The one bit of hope we’re holding onto is that my husband has finally been able to start working again. We truly believe we are close to getting back on our feet. The hardest part is simply surviving this in-between period before regular paychecks start coming in.

Right now we are behind on several important bills. Our water bill is $260 and scheduled for shutoff Monday if we can’t pay it in time. We are also currently $500 short on rent, and the stress of trying to keep everything from falling apart this month has been overwhelming.

We don’t ask for help lightly, and every bit of support we’ve received has carried us farther than people probably realize. If anyone is able to help us get through this next month or two, it would mean more to our family than we could ever fully express. We are trying so hard to hold everything together until things stabilize again.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/417e5b87e

❤️ CashApp: $chardizzle88

❤️PayPal: themomster88@gmail.com

❤️Zelle: 304-207-4121

Charde McMillan

(Second picture is a text from our property manager.)

05/09/2026

Please help! ❤️ We are really struggling this month. My husband is finally back at work but we are drowning in bills u til his first paycheck.

Hi, my name is Charde McMillan, and I’m fundraising for my son Maso… Charde McMillan needs your support for Help Mason recover after 4 amputations from sepsis

05/08/2026

We wanted to share where things stand right now, every day I feel more And more stress and more and more desperate. We have no income coming in and I'm in a frenzy trying to figure out what we are going to do...

This month is weighing heavily on me. I am genuinely scared about how we’re going to keep up with our bills and basic household needs. We’ve been holding on, trying to do everything the right way, but it feels like we keep getting knocked back every time we get close to steady ground.

Today, I contacted Social Security again—this was my fifth time since January. When I originally submitted Mason’s paperwork for his review months ago, I did everything I was supposed to do. I followed the process, sent in the documents, and waited patiently. Now, after nearly six months of waiting, I was told his payments are suspended because they claim they never received the paperwork.

Hearing that completely broke me.

Those payments are what we’ve been counting on to help us catch up and stay afloat. We’ve done everything right on our end, and yet we’re the ones left dealing with the consequences of something that was out of our control.

At the same time, I’ve been on a waitlist for over a year to be approved as Mason’s full-time caregiver so I can be paid for the care I’m already providing every day. That would allow my husband to return to work and help us rebuild stability. But every time we call, we’re told the same thing—that there’s still a waiting list.

We are trying. Truly. My husband has interviews lined up, and we are holding onto hope that one of those opportunities comes through soon. We want nothing more than to stand on our own again and move forward without needing help.

But right now, we are stretched thinner than we’ve ever been.

On top of everything, Mason’s myoelectric hooks are still in progress, and the waiting feels endless. Every piece of this journey seems to take longer than it should, and it’s exhausting trying to keep everything together in the meantime.

I’ll be honest—this has taken a toll on me emotionally. It’s incredibly hard to keep asking for help. There’s a weight that comes with it that’s difficult to explain, and it’s not something I ever imagined we’d still be facing.

If you’ve supported us, prayed for us, or even just taken the time to read our updates—thank you. It truly means more than I can express.

If you’re in a position to help us get through this stretch, we would be deeply grateful. And if not, your prayers and support still mean the world to our family.

We’re just trying to hold on until things finally turn around.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

❤️ GoFundMe:

Hi, my name is Charde McMillan, and I’m fundraising for my son Maso… Charde McMillan needs your support for Help Mason recover after 4 amputations from sepsis

05/06/2026

Please read and share if you can ❤️

We wanted to share where things stand right now, even though finding the words feels overwhelming.

This month is weighing heavily on me. I am genuinely scared about how we’re going to keep up with our bills and basic household needs. We’ve been holding on, trying to do everything the right way, but it feels like we keep getting knocked back every time we get close to steady ground.

Today, I contacted Social Security again—this was my fifth time since January. When I originally submitted Mason’s paperwork for his review months ago, I did everything I was supposed to do. I followed the process, sent in the documents, and waited patiently. Now, after nearly six months of waiting, I was told his payments are suspended because they claim they never received the paperwork.

Hearing that completely broke me.

Those payments are what we’ve been counting on to help us catch up and stay afloat. We’ve done everything right on our end, and yet we’re the ones left dealing with the consequences of something that was out of our control.

At the same time, I’ve been on a waitlist for over a year to be approved as Mason’s full-time caregiver so I can be paid for the care I’m already providing every day. That would allow my husband to return to work and help us rebuild stability. But every time we call, we’re told the same thing—that there’s still a waiting list.

We are trying. Truly. My husband has interviews lined up, and we are holding onto hope that one of those opportunities comes through soon. We want nothing more than to stand on our own again and move forward without needing help.

But right now, we are stretched thinner than we’ve ever been.

On top of everything, Mason’s myoelectric hooks are still in progress, and the waiting feels endless. Every piece of this journey seems to take longer than it should, and it’s exhausting trying to keep everything together in the meantime.

I’ll be honest—this has taken a toll on me emotionally. It’s incredibly hard to keep asking for help. There’s a weight that comes with it that’s difficult to explain, and it’s not something I ever imagined we’d still be facing.

If you’ve supported us, prayed for us, or even just taken the time to read our updates—thank you. It truly means more than I can express.

If you’re in a position to help us get through this stretch, we would be deeply grateful. And if not, your prayers and support still mean the world to our family.

We’re just trying to hold on until things finally turn around.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b0b09e810

❤️ CashApp: $chardizzle88

❤️Zelle: 304-207-4121

Charde McMillan

05/05/2026

We wanted to share where things stand right now, even though finding the words feels overwhelming.

This month is weighing heavily on me. I am genuinely scared about how we’re going to keep up with our bills and basic household needs. We’ve been holding on, trying to do everything the right way, but it feels like we keep getting knocked back every time we get close to steady ground.

Today, I contacted Social Security again—this was my fifth time since January. When I originally submitted Mason’s paperwork for his review months ago, I did everything I was supposed to do. I followed the process, sent in the documents, and waited patiently. Now, after nearly six months of waiting, I was told his payments are suspended because they claim they never received the paperwork.

Hearing that completely broke me.

Those payments are what we’ve been counting on to help us catch up and stay afloat. We’ve done everything right on our end, and yet we’re the ones left dealing with the consequences of something that was out of our control.

At the same time, I’ve been on a waitlist for over a year to be approved as Mason’s full-time caregiver so I can be paid for the care I’m already providing every day. That would allow my husband to return to work and help us rebuild stability. But every time we call, we’re told the same thing—that there’s still a waiting list.

We are trying. Truly. My husband has interviews lined up, and we are holding onto hope that one of those opportunities comes through soon. We want nothing more than to stand on our own again and move forward without needing help.

But right now, we are stretched thinner than we’ve ever been.

On top of everything, Mason’s myoelectric hooks are still in progress, and the waiting feels endless. Every piece of this journey seems to take longer than it should, and it’s exhausting trying to keep everything together in the meantime.

I’ll be honest—this has taken a toll on me emotionally. It’s incredibly hard to keep asking for help. There’s a weight that comes with it that’s difficult to explain, and it’s not something I ever imagined we’d still be facing.

If you’ve supported us, prayed for us, or even just taken the time to read our updates—thank you. It truly means more than I can express.

If you’re in a position to help us get through this stretch, we would be deeply grateful. And if not, your prayers and support still mean the world to our family.

We’re just trying to hold on until things finally turn around.

God bless,
Charde McMillan ❤️

❤️ GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b0b09e810

❤️ CashApp: $chardizzle88

❤️Zelle: 304-207-4121

Charde McMillan