VOLUME 8: ISSUE 5
- Abby Fitzpatrick, Age 11
"As I write this note, Abby and I are sitting on the tarmac in Boston, on a Delta Airlines jet, waiting to take off and return home to Georgia..."
Lauren Fitzpatrick's thank you note continued, "It has been a long day, but Abby was seen by one of only three specialists in the country who care for children with mitochondrial disease who also have this specific GI issue. Dream House has taken one worry from us by providing the tickets and allowing us to focus more fully on Abby and her care."
Collaboration got Abby to Boston, PDQ.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, Floating Hospital for Children called Lauren to alert her an opening had become available for her daughter, Abby, who had been wait-listed for an important procedure. However, they needed to be in Boston May 11. Lauren contacted Angel Flight Atlanta, GA to give them the good news, and to set the wheels in motion to fly Abby to Boston. Regretfully, weather prevented Angel Flight from accepting the mission.
"There is nothing worse than telling a parent, who has been waiting on an appointment for their child, that we cannot fly the mission," commented Bernadette Darnell, Angel Flight Atlanta Missions Coordinator.
Ms. Darnell had just the week before successfully referred another family to Dream House, whose daughter is battling a malignant brain tumor, after having learned that Dream House used donated Delta SkyMiles to send little Nathan Sholes to Pennsylvania in April. She suggested the Fitzpatricks contact Dream House, too.
- September 2007: Jeff Francoeur's Delta SkyMiles presentation to Dream House Founder and CEO, Laura Moore.
One Gift, Many Beneficiaries
The past 20 months, Dream House has helped numerous medically fragile children with transportation for out-of-state medical procedures. Through its SkyMiles Home Run Program, Delta Airlines donated SkyMiles to Dream House for each home run hit by Jeff Francoeur during the 2007 Atlanta Braves season. Abby is the latest, and one of the last, medically fragile child to benefit from this gift.
"Because of the kindness and generosity of Mr. Francoeur and Delta Airlines, your (Dream House) compassion and dedication, we were able to make the trip." wrote Lauren Fitzpatrick.
"We were hoping never to live this again, but here we are..." Lauren's note continued. "Our son, Jack, passed away in 2001 at age 7 from this disease. It is so, so important that word gets out that there is such a gap financially, emotionally, physically - you name it - when a family is caring for a chronically ill child. Kevin and I both have jobs and insurance, yet we are on the verge of bankruptcy. The copays and out of pockets (expense), combined with missed work, is so much that most (people) cannot understand it unless they have lived it."
When Ms. Darnell heard the news that Dream House would be taking care of Abby's travel arrangements, she remembers telling a group of volunteers working at the Angel Flight office that day, "Dream House has earned their name. They're bringing home another child!"
To which one of the volunteers from the AT&T Pioneers promptly responded, "That's why we have chosen to support both Angel Flight and Dream House by giving splitting our charitable donation between you both this year."
Sustainability is the Key, but Times are Tough...
In a follow-up call to Dream House, Lauren Fitzpatrick told the nurse coordinator in charge of Abby's case that, "Agencies like yours are few and far between. Getting word out about the support you provide (to children) is so crucial to (securing) funding."
The Dream House staff is very thankful to have had this Family for Keeps™ Bridging the Gap resource available to help so many children in their times of need. What happens next time Ms. Darnell with Angel Flight Atlanta contacts Dream House for assistance? That is a good question...There are many ways to give that will help children like Abby.
We Need Your Help
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Dream House relies solely on private donations to give Georgia's medically fragile children hope for a better future. We need:
- Financial Gifts - For every dollar donated to Dream House, $0.86 goes to fund the innovative hospital-to-home transition care programs that provide new pathways for these children. Support a Child Today
- Goods and Services - Dream House connects families, caring for their medically fragile children at home, with local community partners who will help these desperate families "bridge the gap" so they may keep their children at home. Learn How You Can Help Today
- Your Time - Volunteers provide the skills and talents that make it possible for Dream House to serve medically fragile children throughout Georgia. Volunteer Today
Please be an advocate for the thousands of medically fragile children living in communities throughout Georgia. Share the news that Dream House is collaborating with other local non-profit organizations to help these kids and their families. Spread the word that the number of children Dream House can help is directly proportional to the individual, corporate and community support we receive. Make a donation.
