I have been living on Maui with my son Skyler for eight years. Skyler is 14. He loves football basketball and diving. He overcame acute myeloid leukemia at 10 months old and he was born with Down Syndrome.

He is the light to my life and he’s taught me more than I’ve taught him. I recently quit my job at the Four Seasons due to long hours and being so unavailable to Skyler. My schedule was never consistent so he started missing his occupational and physical therapy weekly that he so much deserved.

I found a new part-time job that way I’m more available for Skyler and his needs. structure and consistency is important for his development.

I started in February. I recently applied for snap benefits to help us survive. With the rain and flooding I was only able to work 1 day two weeks in a row. I complied with snap and turned in all the paperwork they requested, including my pay stubs. I ended up showing them three pay checks, I get paid by-weekly. That would mean paystubs for a six-week period.

They denied my son and I any assistance. The fact my son has a permanent disability isn’t enough. He doesn’t qualify for social security until he’s 18. I get no assistance with child care. I get no child support. And now, we don’t qualify for food stamps.

If my son and I got denied, who on earth is going to get approved? I also know I’m not the only family here on Maui that needs help but is being turned away.

Brianna Soper
Kīhei