VOLUME 7: ISSUE 1
We are excited to share with you the inaugural eNews issue of The Silver Lining.
Dream House is a children's charity teaching families and communities how to help kids with very complex health issues thrive at home instead of being institutionalized for life. Did you know that we rely solely on private donations to serve medically fragile children and their families throughout Georgia?
Thank you for your interest in, and support for the Dream House mission. Please know how very grateful we are and how vital your participation has been in helping us achieve such tremendous success. Because of your support, we have set the standard for home care of medically fragile children which will some day have a national impact!
We have overcome many obstacles and accomplished many goals with your help. To date Dream House has:
- Served more than 900 medically fragile children in 40 of 159 Georgia counties,
- Developed a training curriculum unlike any other in the country,
- Received three State licensures,
- Successfully supported legislation to create a new statewide licensure category for ‘Children’s Transition Care Centers,' and
- Created a model of care that has sparked national interest.
Children benefiting from the unique Dream House transition care program have health care expenses one-third the cost of keeping them in the hospital. These kids realize their potential – whether gaining quality for the lifespan in front of them, or having the same opportunity as other children to become productive, contributing members of their communities.
Dream House friends, like Atlanta Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur, are spreading the news. You can, too!
We have rolled out the red carpet for precious foster children recently placed in the Dream House Lilburn Transition Care Home. Each has significant health issues. These kids need our services to stabilize their conditions, engage home health care resources, develop a long-term plan of care, and to find permanent family placements.
At any given time, we may have up to six medically fragile children in the Home for periods from 30 days to one year. On average, children in our care stay 90 days until Dream House staff transition them into safe and loving homes, uniquely prepared to help them thrive.
One little fellow has gone home with his new foster family! Throughout July, this family benefited from hands-on training for his specialized care needs. We watched their confidence grow as a bond has formed around this brand new family. What a rewarding experience!
From our family to yours...
Meet Baby. That’s not her real name, but to be around her any length of time, that’s how you think of her. Because she has a mental age of six months, Baby is totally helpless – completely dependent upon others to meet her every need – and will be for life. Other chronic health issues also plague Baby. Do you know what’s tragic? At the start of her life, Baby lost her family. She had no one when she needed them most.
In June, Baby came to the Dream House Lilburn Transition Care Home lacking a full medical history. Within days, her newly assigned medical team and Dream House staff learned an astonishing fact. Baby has a congenital defect that could have and should have been surgically corrected when she was much younger. As a result, Baby cannot walk, even though she is not paralyzed.
We at Dream House are blessed to be involved with developing Baby’s life-care plan to make certain that she benefits from the quality of life that she deserves. She is safe in a loving home and nurturing environment until Dream House finds and trains a loving family, eager to bring Baby home.
Help support a medically fragile child like Baby.
We know your discretionary spending commitments may be limited, but could you earmark one dollar a day or $30 per month for Dream House? Your donation is critical and will help fund direct care costs for medically fragile children, like Baby, who are living in our Lilburn Transition Care Home.
Learn the many ways to get involved helping make a difference for medically fragile children and their families. We welcome what you are able to give: your time, your talent or your resources. No gift is too small! Please contact us with any questions about Dream House, our mission or those we serve.
