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Respite Care is a Vital Gift
"Terrell's recent respite stay came at the perfect time," confided Scharell Williams, aunt and legal guardian of four-year-old Terrell McPherson. "We had two family emergencies arise at the same time, and I needed someone to help care for him." Terrell suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident when an infant, and his mother suddenly passed away a year later.
- Transition Care Associate Rochelle Walters reads to Terrell.
The Williams have embraced Terrell and his siblings as part of their own young family. That loving gesture has taken its toll, however, since this little boy requires total care and they have no family here to help. "The other kids tell me they need me without him," Scharell said about the benefits of respite for her family, adding the older children "now value the necessity of donating, and see the beauty of what a donation brings."
Most insurance plans do not cover respite care.
Dream House has built a very robust Respite Care Program thanks to community support that funds scholarships for short-term stays of two to 14 days. Medically fragile children like Terrell benefit because of ongoing donations from various sources: loyal Dream House supporters; recent grant awards from the Jackson EMC Foundation, the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., and the One Path Foundation; plus other community sponsored fundraisers like the one currently underway at Berens Frozen Custard, the March 28th event hosted by the Georgia Lacrosse League, and the annual May 1st Family Fun Trail Ride.
Another local fundraiser was organized by Girl Scout Troup 131, Mountain Park Service Unit, who honored Dream House with a $500 donation. They earned the money by selling a Christmas musical CD, Christmas for the Children of the World, that the girls recorded from arrangements by Raiff Ellis. Special thanks to Chick-Fil-A® and Starbucks for allowing Troup 131 to sell the CD at their Lilburn locations.
- Damian has a musical soul, and loves playing his keyboard.
Respite Scholarships on the Wish List
Respite care is one of the services Dream House provides for medically fragile children at the Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home in Lilburn, the first licensed Children's Transition Care Center in the nation. Scholarships for respite care are $200 per day, per child. Dream House makes respite available as we have the scholarship funds.
Zarat Boyd shared, "With our son Damian's rapid fire schedule of 4-5 therapies a week and the exhaustion that comes from caring for a child who is fully dependent on his caregivers for daily activities such as bathing, feeding, toileting, transporting, etc., it becomes increasingly difficult to give high levels of care, love and direction." Damian has benefited from respite care scholarships via a Cobb County Friendship grant award, and others. "We love Dream House. This special place has provided a safe haven for our son and a place where he can share joy with others. He is respected and allowed to be himself, which is critical to building his self-esteem."
Zarat and Damian, Sr. are in full time ministry, and she added that another benefit to respite care for their son is that "Dream House has allowed us to continue serving our community through ministry. Without it, we would be greatly hindered. We are greatly appreciative of Dream House as it lives out its mission."
Every Donation Counts! Today, would you make a donation that will help a medically fragile child? Your gift will combine with others to meet the greatest needs for the children Dream House serves. You can also refer a child to our Program, or pass this email along to a friend.
