Helping Children &Families Living w/CysticFibrosis

We are excited to announce that this year has been our biggest fundraising year so far!  Thank you for your continued support as our programs reach new families in need in the cystic fibrosis community.

Here are a few stories of Extended Hospital Stay Grant recipients who consider their grant a true lifesaver during their time of need.  You can feel proud that your donations have made these grants, and many more, possible.

Amara was referred to us by Boston Children’s Hospital as having “severe Cystic Fibrosis” and being evaluated for lung transplant at the very young age of 6 years old.  Cystic Fibrosis has many genetic mutations, some more difficult to manage than others and some patients have coexisting conditions that make it even more deadly.

Amara has been hospitalized for over 3 months since January 2017, one of the stays included a very severe infection that ended up in her needing to be intubated.  Luckily, she was strong enough to recover but it has resulted in both significant emotional and financial stress for her single income family who is struggling to stay with her and provide her with the support and love she needs.

Due to you, the donors who support our mission, we were able to assist this family with back rent and associated late fees.

Amara’s mother writes: “As a parent of a child as sick as mine, it feels so refreshing to know that there are people who care.  Any support goes a long way and my family and I are so grateful for this gesture.  I pray that this organization is able to help other families in need as they have helped mine.  Thank you beyond expression!”

The fact that patients are living longer, fuller lives with Cystic Fibrosis is a blessing!  We at Claire’s Place Foundation initially began our mission to serve children under 18 but realized that young adults living with CF are out in the world trying to support themselves while dealing with a very high maintenance illness and are also in need of assistance.  We expanded our guidelines to include young adults and have been amazed by the super stars we have been able to meet.  Here is one, her name is Samantha..

Samantha and her husband James are both young professionals working to pay their way while dealing with her disease that is getting more and more difficult to manage.  This year alone, Samantha has been hospitalized 6 times, twice for over 14 days.  The stress of missed work and bills piling up in her absence is enough to take her attention away from her recovery, to say the least.

Being at the point of having to decide which bills can be paid and which ones have to paid late is not an easy place to be.  We were thrilled to be able to offer Samantha and her husband a grant that covered one month’s living expenses paid to the mortgage lender, utilities, etc. so that they could begin the next month with a clean slate and a little bit less of a burden.

Samantha says “I received the email saying we had been approved after I got off of work.  I literally sat in my car and cried tears of joy and relief.  We are so grateful, beyond words!  We know there are many families who request assistance and we are honored and humbled to have been helped.  We will happily pay it forward when we are able.  You are angels!”

Links:

• Visit our website to see more stories like these