Wow, seven children, that must be tough.  I don't know how you do it. Five was the limit for me and sometimes were easier than others. I suppose that love is one thing that always helps you get through. I just keep going, what else can I do.  What else can any of us do really.  We live in a country where we always help out other people in dire need.  I believe that is a great thing about america--- but sometimes I think they don't do enough for there own.  I am not big on politics and don't choose to be; so I can't really say why it is they make the decisions they sometimes do.  But try to keep the faith and your head held high. Our children learn by our example/ from what they see and hear. You have to be strong and show them that you can survive. Blessings to you and yours.

Dear Caprice,  I too am sorry for your debt and concerns about school. I am in school currently for my school nurse/teacher of health certification and had to take loans. Plus I have not yet begun to pay the loans for my BSN that I acquired in May of 2007.  It is so difficult to get an education.  It just doesn't seem right that it is that way.  I wish I was a millionaire so that every cause that I believed in I could be of assistance to.  I did not go to the media; and am not sure how I would go about that  exactly.  It is not just the headstone it is the entire funeral expense which is over $11,000.00.

Unfortunately, my family is not weathly either and everyone is trying to get by.  Times are so difficult for everyone everywhere. I guess we can only pray and hope for the best.  How about scholarships; are you elegible to apply for any through school.  I applied twice got denied twice. They only pick one or two people I guess and I never seem to be one of them. I also applied at work for a small scholarship, three years in a row; again no luck there either.  I wish I had some better words of wisdom or some quick fix for you and me. All I can do right now is offer my support and wish you luck,as well.

Take Care

I do feel for you Caprice as  I am currently in college as well and working with four children (I had 5).   Did you apply for financial aid and subsidized and unsubsidized loans???  I know  that no one wants loans hanging over them; but the good news is that you don't have to begin to pay them until after you have completed your education. go to FASA.com  What about your parents? They can't help you ?  I am unfortunately in no better shape or I would help. I am currently searching for help myself; to pay an outstanding funeral bill so that my son can finally get a head stone. I will pray for you Caprice.

Hello, today was my first post too "1faith".  I was once a single mother like you. I know what you mean about working and not making enough to survive and making too much to get any assistance. It is not fair.  I wish you all the best. I will look for you from time to time on this site. God Bless.

My children are 11, 15, (would have been 18 this year), another 18 year old (no not twins), and a 20 year old.

I am a 41 year old mother of 5. (now 4) I lost my seventeen year old son, Eddie October of 2006. My son had lived with me for 16years and then against my wishes and a judge's better judgement he went to live with my ex. He was their one year and a day and died in the home of my ex's girlfriend from a drug overdose.  My ex. was incarcerated at the time of my son's death; which I had only found out 1-2 weeks before my son died. So many people dropped the ball. My son at the time of my ex's incarceration should have been returned to me. His biological mother. He was not an adult. No one even called me to tellme my ex was in jail.  There are many rumors my ex was dealing cocaine.  The house was a hangout for many Butler teens.  But what child is going to rat out on people who allow them to party and hang out in there home.

I could not even see my son until a week after he passed. Because some idiot bailed my ex out of jail and he went to the court to hold up the funeral.  To make a long story short I was I was permitted to proceed with the funeral arrangements and cemetery that I had chosen; but this did not erase the aching and seperation from my son for a week.

My ex had the nerve to call that day after court; crying begging to be allowed to have his own wake.  I did not want to give him a single thing after the misery he put me through; but I allowed him to his own wake so not have to deal with him or any obnoxious teens who saw my son the day he passed and commented to a teacher how bad he looked and how his lips looked blue; yet they did nothing.

I was unable to pay the funeral expense and am in collection with 18% interest accruing. My son still has no headstone because the money I put down as a deposit was taken and put toward the funeral cost (same company) so they took that because I had not made a substantial pymt.

My husband is out of work and has been since 6/2007 when he fell off a ladder and broke his heel in two places. He recently had a second surgery in March.  I just can not get a break. I am in collection all over the place and my land lord took us to court last week for eviction. My rent is astronomical and I don't even live in some luxurious house. It was built in the 70's and is only three bedrooms.  I cant save up anything to move because my rent is 2400.00

My landlord is Aaron Osmond from Utah.  Guess what his aunt is Marie Osmond.  I wish I had a way to contact her and let her know how inconsiderate and money hungry her nephew is.  Would not go over to well for that perfect american family would it?

I don't know what anyone would or could help me with.  Payments to Ferguson's Funeral Home in Vernon, NJ on behalf of my son Edward M. Castellano would be appreciated more than I could ever say.  You can verify my story by googling his obituary I believe.  It was in the Bergen Record and another paper the Herald I think.

None of my family really can help me. My parents divorced years ago and my dad remarried with a whole new family; young kids even. My mom just about can pay her own bills. My eldest sister is mother of 5 and does not work and her husband leaves for Iraq in June. My second oldest sister lives in Canada and does not bother with any of her family really.  My middle sister is in NY state and her husband is out of work for a couple of years now and my sister closest to me has three of her own and her own financial issues. I thought about doing a web page and asking anyone to send any thing dollars even to the Funeral Home directly; but I don't know how to go about that.

I have always done what I can to help others. Donating clothes; working at a food pantry; and serving meals to the poor; teaching religous ed. I do work in a small community hospital in Sussex County I am also in college. The pay is not like it is for larger hospitals and I barely live paycheck to paycheck.  I just need a break; for once in my life a break.  I don't want to go on and on; but I could. I have had an abusive marrage (my first "the ex")  I have lost a home (my first) and I have lost a child.  Can anyone help me.