Mom raising daughter alone after dad's suicide
This mom is raising her daughter on her own. The girl's dad committed suicide three years ago.
The child, 12, is battling depression, and began showing signs of another major mental illness.
"Last year, she started acting out in school," the mom said.
The mother lost her job after having to leave often to go to her daughter's school, when the child was in crisis.
Right now, she said they are relying on Social Security benefits to get by.
It pays most of the bills, she said, most of the time, but many are paid late.
"It's so stressful, worrying about her and how I'm going to pay the rent," she said.
The mom said she has no money left over to buy anything for Christmas.
"It would mean the world to me if I could see her smile. This has been hard for both of us," she said.
With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for folks like this - people left jobless, homeless or who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.
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