The Gift of Time: Sometimes it’s the greatest gift we can give
Giving the Gift of Time this Mother’s Day to moms with critically ill children.
The story of Kimberly and her son Marques is a perfect example of how our philanthropic “spotlight” organization for May 2010, The Andre Sobel River of Life , helps single moms who are both breadwinner and caregiver for their families.
Kimberly is a single mother of two children. When six-year-old Marques was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an adrenal cancer that had metastasized throughout his body, he faced a 30% chance of survival. Mom was forced to quit her job and started to rely on her savings. She cut out all unessential expenses, but nevertheless a day came when Kimberly couldn’t pay the rent. That’s when her social worker contacted the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (ASRL.)
Meanwhile, chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant put her son’s condition in remission until a few weeks ago when he relapsed.
Kimberly keeps up her spirits even as Marques is back in the hospital, now with significant hearing loss from the last intensive treatment. ASRL is paying the rent to give Kimberly more time at her son’s side.
The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation is proud to give Kimberly the gift of time with her son Marques. To help Moms like Kimberly with a tax deductible donation, visit www.andreriveroflife.org
The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation’s unique mission is to give the “gift of time” to single parents whose children are critically ill. In 24 hours, this national non-profit organization makes emergency payments for vital living expenses so that single parents don’t have to make the tough choice of being at work to earn a paycheck or being with their catastrophically ill or dying child. The Foundation allows these struggling parents to be at their child’s bedside – to provide comfort, advocacy and love – during critical illness or in their last days. By paying for transportation to the hospital, groceries, rent, mortgages and utility bills, the Foundation gives the parent the “gift of time” and frees her to focus on her child’s healing.
