VOLUME 7: ISSUE 2
- Financial gifts to Dream House help children like Andrew. Read his story below...
Did you know that in the first six months of 2008, Dream House trained and helped 211 families caring for 136 medically fragile children in Georgia? Wow! We cannot operate without your ongoing financial assistance. Your support is critical during these tight economic times. Please give what you can. Donate today.
Our one-of-a kind Family for Keeps™ Transition Care Program helps move children, with complex health care issues, out of hospitals or adult nursing facilities into stable home environments. This can save tax payers and health care institutions millions of dollars in uncompensated care each year.
In our Lilburn Transition Care Home, Dream House provides transitional housing for medically fragile children to help these precious kids learn to live in a nurturing home environment. All the while, Dream House helps facilitate the necessary modifications for their new homes, and provides specialized education and skills training for their families, care-givers and the community.
Andrew’s situation is dire, everyday.
Just imagine your four-year-old going into cardiac arrest – for no apparent reason. Imagine personally administering CPR to revive him. On top of this mystery condition, imagine managing his other chronic health issues, among them Downs Syndrome, Autism, Hurschrungs Disease, two stents in his heart and an Arachnoid cyst on the brain. Imagine living your life on pins and needles, wondering when the next episode may occur – at home, while driving, in a store – always ready to react and never knowing if it will be the end.
His family, caught between a rock and a hard place.
We first met Andrew when his parents contacted Dream House. Overwhelmed by the constant care their son required, they were also trying to maintain some normalcy for their other three children, and holding down jobs to cover living and medical expenses. We provided a care conference to help the family locate qualified services and resources for Andrew’s care.
When things go from bad to worse, where do you turn?
Now imagine you are the parent, sick and needing surgery. This is the situation Andrew’s mother recently faced. Who could this family turn to for Andrew’s care during her hospitalization and recovery? Again, they reached out to Dream House.
In July, Andrew “went to camp” for respite care at the Dream House Lilburn Transition Care Home. He stayed with us five days, receiving quality care from trained staff. Andrew’s parents were able to focus on Mom's recovery while he played with the other children living in the house. He experienced fun fieldtrips and played outside in the new sandbox pavilion, secret garden, nature trail and playground.
Caring for Andrew was a joy! We learned that he loves being photographed and will giggle after the flash. He thoroughly enjoyed his "camp" experience at the Lilburn Transition Care Home. Thanks to the generosity of Dream House supporters, his parents received the respite they needed.
The demand is constant.
Dream House receives requests for respite care more than any other request. Families caring for their medically fragile children at home (biological, adopted or foster) need qualified help to give them an occasional break. Unlike most families, they cannot call the neighborhood baby sitter to watch their children. However, most families cannot afford respite care and this service is not typically covered by insurance.
Respite care gives families a chance to rest and engage in activities that enhance relationships and keep the family together – such as time alone with their spouses, their other children, family members and friends. Learn more...
Donate now and together we can all help Dream House provide support to families, like Andrew's, so their innocent children may enjoy life to the fullest amidst intense, chronic health care challenges. Join our efforts and reap the incredible rewards of helping fulfill the Dream House mission. We can empower communities to keep these families together.
Learn how you can help out or contact us today.
