Mom wants better Christmas for husband and daughter

This mom became unable to continue working after becoming seriously ill from blood poisoning. A wound on her foot had become infected and it spread to the bone.

About six weeks ago, doctors decided to amputate that part of her foot, from the ball forward.

While adjusting to her new condition, she's watching her husband work overtime and look for side jobs to fill the financial gap created by her loss of income.

"I feel so bad," she said. "He has been my rock, helping me and telling me I'm just as beautiful and sexy as the day we met 20 years ago."

She said they're used to being able to help others, and they often welcomed people who were struggling into their home.

"Now, we're on the other end," she said.

Her daughter, 11, has been understanding, helping out whenever possible, because the mom can't do many things right now.

"I'm still learning to balance," she said.

There's no extra money in the household for the family's own holiday celebration this year.

Each year, she said, she and her daughter picked a child's name from an angel tree and gave a gift to the child. When she told her little girl they couldn't afford to do that this year, the daughter went through her own clothes, toys and books to find items to donate to a drive at her school.

"My kiddo has a big heart," she said.

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