Funds are being raised to support a North Okanagan family dealing with unspeakable loss.
Two-year-old Micah Meachem was fatally struck by a vehicle near Falkland at the end of January.
“We lost our 2 year old son Micah in an absolutely horrific accident,” Micah’s mother, Erin Meachem, said in a GoFundMe campaign she launched on April 28.
Erin explained the family has hadto deal with a lot of expenses, and as credit card interest piles up, they are finding it increasingly hard to meet their financial needs in the wake of the tragedy.
“We have put on a brave face, to the point of even hiding from ourselves how we truly feel. Although we have good days and moments, we are starting to realize that we are not okay,” Erin wrote.
“Most people thankfully will never be able to understand from an experiential point of view what we are going through, and therefore don’t truly know how to support us through this time. It has felt quite isolating and we haven’t been sure how to get the support we need.”
The GoFundMe fundraiser has raised $2,290 as of Saturday evening.
“With the encouragement of close friends, I have been able to find the courage to ask for this help. It’s not something either me or my husband are used to doing, and feels very vulnerable,” Erin wrote, adding more financial strains are on the way as the couple is expecting a baby.
“Micah was the light of our lives, a sweet and funny boy who was always full of joy. We miss him so much. The agony can be paralyzing.”
Erin wrote that every donation makes “a massive difference in our lives at this unbearable time.”
She told The Morning Star that a separate fundraising event, created by a family friend, will take place in Salmon Arm Friday, June 7, at the Night Cafe from 4-10 p.m. There will be bands playing, a silent auction, and a 50/50 draw.
“May the Love that Micah embodied ripple out to every part of your being and bless you for all the days of your life,” Erin wrote.
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