EKF At Work in 2008

In February, EKF helped a single mom from Des Moines, IA, as she cared for her 12 year-old daughter who underwent a heart transplant at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.  Mom needed help getter her car repaired so she could travel regularly between Iowa City to be with her daughter, and Des Moines to look after her young son.  EKF also helped the family by covering parking expenses at the Ronald McDonald house during the months they spent at the hospital.

In June, EKF helped the Merseal family (See Charli Anna’s Story) during their daughter’s five month hospitalization.  The family had incurred several thousand dollars in dislocation expenses related to the hospitalization.  EKF helped cover much of their expense during that time.

In July, EKF helped a single mother of two keep up with her utility payments at home as she took extended time off from work to tend to her teenage daughter recovering from a heart transplant at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian.

In September, EKF helped the McDonald family from Washington state.  (See Mia’s story).  Little Mia McDonald waited four months in the PICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital before a donor heart became available.   The wait was agonizing.  EKF helped the family by sending gas cards to help offset their transportation expenses of getting back and forth between home and the hospital.  While Mia’s Mom spent most of her time at the hospital with Mia, Mia’s Dad lost his job a few weeks after Mia was born.  Their income dropped significantly and the family found themselves in a jam financially around the first of September. EKF made a single mortgage payment on the family’s behalf.  A few weeks later, Mia’s Dad found another job and their financial situation stabilized.  EKF helped them keep their heads above water, financially, while they dealt with the more pressing matter of Mia’s health.

In October, EKF helped a young family from Kansas as they relocated to Iowa City to await a heart transplant for their four year-old son.  The family had asked for help coming up with a security deposit for an apartment near the hospital so they could wait for a new heart in the comforts of home as opposed to waiting in the hospital.

In October, EKF helped a single mom from Iowa as she transitioned home after her infant son’s hospital discharge.  Her son had been born with a host of serious medical problems including a complex congenital heart defect.  During her son’s three month hospitalization, mom had lost her job, her home, and many of her belongings.  Her life seemed to be unraveling due largely to the stress brought by her son’s condition.  EKF lent a hand and helped her get back on her feet after her son’s medical condition had stabilized and he was released from the hospital for the first time.

Throughout 2008, EKF helped a single mother in New York as she cared for her twin boys who had each had heart transplants at Children’s Hospital of New York.  (See Johan and Tariq’s Story).  EKF helped buy food and some pharmacy expenses not covered by the boys public assistance program.  EKF also helped with transportation expenses to and from the hospital for post-operative follow-up visits.