VOLUME 8: ISSUE 12
At the April 2009 Family Fun Trail Ride to benefit Dream House, a supporter learned that occasionally, we get requests for back-up generators from families whose medically fragile children are dependent on respirators or ventilators. He offered to donate a generator should the need arise. A Walton County family contacted Dream House in November seeking assistance for their infant son. Via the Dream House Family for KeepsŪ Bridging the Gap Program, a team of volunteers delivered and permanently installed a back-up generator for Austyn King. In gratitude, his mother Yanique wrote the following notes to Dream House Founder and CEO, Laura Moore.
A Timely Gift for Austyn
Email from Yanique King, Dec. 23, 2009
Dear Dream House,
Austyn has been having very bad episodes past few days and had to be on Oxygen all last night. We had to also increase respiratory treatments today. In the middle of a treatment the power in my house was shut off - some type of accident in the area that caused the outage. I was unable to reach the power company immediately and when I did, there was no ETA on when the power would come back on. Had it not been for Dream House and your help with a generator, I am not sure what we would be doing right now. I just cannot thank you enough...
Kind regards,
Yanique King
My baby, Austyn's story
Email from Yanique King, December 18, 2009
Dear Laura and Dream House,
I recently read the Dream House story online and was very touched. Generally, I thought it takes a person like me, who has a medically fragile child, to be so intimately touched and motivated to make a difference. Just when I was getting ready to give up, Dream House shines a new ray of hope at the end of my dark tunnels. You are an inspiration.
At 34 gestational weeks, I was rushed into emergency surgery due to severe Preeclamsia. I had to wait two long days before I could see my third child, Bradley "Austyn." He was said to be one of the healthiest babies in NICU, and in less than two weeks he was home.
I immediately found his breathing concerning but was deemed by the medical team to be an over-worried mom, and that my baby was perfectly normal. By the time he was three-weeks-old, I again had the "mommy gut" feeling that something was not right with the limited mobility in Austyn's lower extremities. Having two other kids to compare him with, I definitely felt like he should just move more. Again, family and friends convinced me that I just was used to raising girls, and I should just get used to the "world of boys." So, I did not bring this concern to my pediatrician's attention at Austyn's four week check-up.
Then, at the tender age of seven weeks, my beautiful, adorable bundle of joy was rushed to the hospital, because I insisted that his now very weak cry, inability to lift his hands above his head like he used to and just "floppy appearance" was definitely NOT NORMAL!! Eight agonizing days later, we were given the heart wrenching diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA). We were told to take Austyn home and whenever he goes into respiratory distress, call 911 (wait for him to die).
I obviously did the very opposite. I got on the Internet and researched for days. I called and emailed scientists, biologists, researchers, parents and God knows who else all across the globe. Though the responses all left me with the cold reality of a grim prognosis, there was still much more hope than to just sit and wait for my son to aspirate to death. It took a fight, but I managed to get Austyn all the supportive equipment needed to sustain his life within three weeks of his diagnosis.
Austyn is today a happy, adorable, smart, alert, responsive and perfect nine-month old infant trapped in a very obviously imperfect body. Though SMA does not affect his mind, I have achingly watched the degenerative progression of all my baby's voluntary muscles including his ability to swallow and breathe.
Unlike "Joey" (highlighted in the Dream House story), Austyn will always have a loving and caring home and family. I will continue to love him with all my might. The challenges are numerous but my will is infinite. My love for my son is priceless and I will continue to do everything in my power to help him beat the text book death (for his diagnosis).
What your organization has already done in support of my family gives me hope, and I thank you from the depths of my heart. I do not have money to donate to your cause, and sincerely if I ever do, Dream House will be my biggest charity. I also do not have a lot of time on my hands for obvious reasons. However, I would like to offer myself for you to fit in some way, shape or form in your organization to help with your cause. I am very open to share with other families, especially of newly diagnosed conditions or the ones that feel hopeless.
Happy holidays,
Yanique King
From gift cards and home-cooked meals, to presents and even donations of diapers, toilet paper and cleaning supplies, dozens of Dream House families caring for their medically fragile children at home, received much needed assistance in November and December. Also during this time, five children have benefited from the unique Children's Transition Care Center services at the Family for KeepsŪ Transition Care Home in Lilburn, thanks to the generosity of Dream House supporters.
Thank you to the thousands of individuals, groups and businesses for your willingness to help Dream House change lives, one child at a time, throughout 2009!
Please include support for Dream House in your 2010 giving plans.
- Make a financial donation to support a medically fragile child
- Volunteer
- Sponsor a Dream House event
- Choose the specific way you want to Help Out
- Help us reach out to a family in your community
Reminder: The 2009 Year-End Silver Lining Newsletter and giving summaries will be mailed in mid-January. Find the newsletter posted on the Dream House web site the week of January 11, 2010.
