Passing this along...

The following is a request from a friend of mine for a family she works with. If you feel compelled to help let me know and I can connect you with her or pass on any donations you may have. Thanks for considering it.....

"As you know, once in a while, I reach out to the community to help a deserving family that needs a boost or show of love from others. Here's my call out to you to help, if you can:

I've known this family for years and watching them at the time almost broke me. Mom managed to escape a serious domestic violence situation (baby #2 was 3 months at the time) and has been raising her two kids on her own since. She's come a long, long way since I met her - she's grown in confidence, has gotten a job, and is a very dedicated parent who is learning to stand up for her kids as needed. Her daughter will be 7 this month and is a little shining light. She has Turner syndrome and spent years on a feeding tube - there were times when I wasn't sure if she was going to make it. She entered public school last year and had been developing beautifully - she doesn't speak a lot but is social, bright, and her smile makes me melt.

January of this year things started going downhill. The little girl has spent time off and on at St Joe's and Children's Hospital in Seattle. She stopped being able to move her neck (it's stuck at a very uncomfortable angle now), and her knees swelled up so painfully she couldn't get out of bed for weeks at a time. They've received an additional diagnosis now of arthritis (pretty severe) and are undergoing tests to see how they can help her with mobility and pain in the future. She's also now become aware that she is "different" from other children and very much struggling with that. To boot, mom's hours at work were cut, child support payments have been hit or miss, and her rent was raised. She's now attempting to live on $800 per month with both kids, $650 of which go to rent. She's stopped paying some bills to try to make it.

Here's what (I think) they could use: some gas money (or gas cards) to help her get her little girl to much-needed doctor's appointments; gift cards to really any Bellingham store that covers food/clothing/housing needs; non-perishable food items. I am also getting ready to put together a birthday basket for this young lady - she and her brother are very humble kids, thankful for anything from clothing to toys to books."