If I was Jodie
I would have considered myself even saving Pa.
After Fawn died I would have gone to sea and just sent money back to the "folks" with no note.
You would have starved before you got anywhere. Ma would have been at home farming because Pa's.farming days were over forever. He's crippled and done. There was no hernia repair post-Civil War.
Great white sharks are attracted to death metal music.