Anna's Angel Fund Update: December 2003

Anna's Angel Fund Update: December 2003

As you all know, the second half of 2003 has been quite a journey for our family. It has been a test of our faith, strength, and endurance. We have always been close but we are now forever bonded in a very special way.

When Anna was diagnosed, the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends was amazing. Anna was overwhelmed with gifts and cards. But as we watched those expressions of love come pouring in, we became more and more aware of the other children at the hospital who were not getting the same kind of support. It touched Anna deeply and was very hard for her to accept.

Thanks to Lisa's brother, Bill, the idea of Anna's Angel Fund was born. The beauty of this idea is that it gives Anna a way to help the children who touch her heart during our hospital stays. It's also an exciting and uplifting project for Anna to focus on and it gives other people a wonderful way to show Anna that they care and are thinking of her. There are no words to tell you how much joy she feels (Larry and me, too!) when we see families at the hospital who have benefited from the Angel Fund. With only two exceptions, the financial aid/gifts have been anonymous and it's a very special moment to see a family's joy over a gift, knowing we were blessed enough to have a part in bringing it to them.

But we could not do it without you. So this is to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. Each one of you has been a part of making life better and happier for a family who has been touched by cancer. YOU ARE ANNA'S ANGELS!

Because of your generosity and because you took the time to show Anna that you care we have been able to do so many things. We have tried to let you know individually what Anna decided to do with the money you sent, but we wanted to share with all of you the many other wonderful examples of what your generosity has allowed us to do:

$500 Wal-mart gift card
This went to a family with 6-week-old hemophiliac baby. They have 11 children and one other child also has hemophilia. They were our first recipients and were a wonderful, gracious, deserving family.

$2000 for Blue Cross deductible
This is a family with a 2 ½ year old little girl who has the same kind of cancer as Anna. Both parents lost their jobs this summer, and therefore they lost their insurance. They went from Blue Cross to Medicaid but still owed Blue Cross for their deductible. They were losing a lot of sleep over the numerous phone calls and letters asking for payment, never having been in a position of being unable to pay their bills before. Thanks to you, we were able to take that burden off their shoulders!

$300 Toys R Us gift cards
These went to parents with three small children. The dad in this family has terminal brain cancer. We saw this family every day for 6 ½ weeks when Anna was going through radiation treatments and Anna really enjoyed seeing their little girl. The dad's condition has deteriorated considerably now and the mom has had to quit her job to care for him. Anna decided that each child should anonymously receive a $100 gift card to Toys R Us for Christmas or that the mom should have the three cards to shop for the children. Done!

$500 rent
This also went to a family who is having to live in a motel here in Atlanta, but must also continue to pay rent on an apartment at home. They were in a financial bind trying to pay for both.

$300 Target gift card, $300 Wal-mart gift card and a stuffed Elmo!
These cards both went to a single mother who was in a very desperate situation. She had to quit her job to care for her toddler who is undergoing radiation therapy and has been very ill the entire time. They have no income and were down to a single diaper and no food. Her social worker at the hospital told us that the baby's clothing was too small as well. Heaven only knows how much what you gave for these gift cards meant to this mother.

$500 Wal-mart card and $300 Kroger Card
These went to a family of six. There are four children in this family but no parents - the maternal grandparents are raising the children. Neither of the parents is involved in the children's lives at all and the youngest child (8 years old) has terminal cancer. These grandparents obviously didn't count on raising their four grandchildren and didn't save the money to do so. The grandfather has gone back to work teaching and caring for the three children at home, while the grandmother lives at the hospital with the youngest child.

$600 in grocery store gift certificates
These went to families who are staying in Atlanta for several months while their child is being treated, but they live out of town. Eating out gets very expensive and grocery money was much needed.

$78 in pre-paid phone cards
These also went to families who are temporarily living in Atlanta. It's very important to them to be able to stay "connected" to family and friends at home. Everybody at home wants to know how the child is doing.

$225 Target and The Disney Store
This money was spent to buy videotapes for the AFLAC Cancer Center. Many of the children were constantly asking the Child Life staff for more videos (especially Disney) to watch while being treated for their cancer/blood disorders in the hospital. They are wonderful for the kids to have as a distraction when getting unpleasant treatments or just to help pass the time. We bought 16 videos, including many Disney classics. (Thanks to the Pilcher family, we also later donated "Finding Nemo"!)

$2500 in other Wal-mart Gift Cards
These cards have been given to several different families who have children battling cancer along with Anna. These families however are truly struggling financially. (We usually choose to purchase the cards from Wal-mart because they can use them for food, clothing, diapers, or whatever they need most.)

I'm sure there are other examples that I've written many of you about that I can't recall at the moment, but you can surely see how special your gifts have been. We are so grateful to you and for you. In the New Year, our prayer for you is that you will be blessed the way you have blessed so many other families - most of all, our own. Happy Holidays!

Lisa, Larry and Anna

Back to Updates Page


		*Anna's Angel Fund Update: December 2003* As you all know, the second half of 2003 has been quite a journey for our family. It has been a test of our faith, strength, and endurance. We have always been close but we are now forever bonded in a very special way. When Anna was diagnosed, the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends was amazing. Anna was overwhelmed with gifts and cards. But as we watched those expressions of love come pouring in, we became more and more aware of the other children at the hospital who were not getting the same kind of support. It touched Anna deeply and was very hard for her to accept. Thanks to Lisa's brother, Bill, the idea of Anna's Angel Fund was born. The beauty of this idea is that it gives Anna a way to help the children who touch her heart during our hospital stays. It's also an exciting and uplifting project for Anna to focus on and it gives other people a wonderful way to show Anna that they care and are thinking of her. There are no words to tell you how much joy she feels (Larry and me, too!) when we see families at the hospital who have benefited from the Angel Fund. With only two exceptions, the financial aid/gifts have been anonymous and it's a very special moment to see a family's joy over a gift, knowing we were blessed enough to have a part in bringing it to them. But we could not do it without you. So this is to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. Each one of you has been a part of making life better and happier for a family who has been touched by cancer. YOU ARE ANNA'S ANGELS! Because of your generosity and because you took the time to show Anna that you care we have been able to do so many things. We have tried to let you know individually what Anna decided to do with the money you sent, but we wanted to share with all of you the many other wonderful examples of what your generosity has allowed us to do: $500 Wal-mart gift card This went to a family with 6-week-old hemophiliac baby. They have 11 children and one other child also has hemophilia. They were our first recipients and were a wonderful, gracious, deserving family. $2000 for Blue Cross deductible This is a family with a 2 ½ year old little girl who has the same kind of cancer as Anna. Both parents lost their jobs this summer, and therefore they lost their insurance. They went from Blue Cross to Medicaid but still owed Blue Cross for their deductible. They were losing a lot of sleep over the numerous phone calls and letters asking for payment, never having been in a position of being unable to pay their bills before. Thanks to you, we were able to take that burden off their shoulders! $300 Toys R Us gift cards These went to parents with three small children. The dad in this family has terminal brain cancer. We saw this family every day for 6 ½ weeks when Anna was going through radiation treatments and Anna really enjoyed seeing their little girl. The dad's condition has deteriorated considerably now and the mom has had to quit her job to care for him. Anna decided that each child should anonymously receive a $100 gift card to Toys R Us for Christmas or that the mom should have the three cards to shop for the children. Done! $500 rent This also went to a family who is having to live in a motel here in Atlanta, but must also continue to pay rent on an apartment at home. They were in a financial bind trying to pay for both. $300 Target gift card, $300 Wal-mart gift card and a stuffed Elmo! These cards both went to a single mother who was in a very desperate situation. She had to quit her job to care for her toddler who is undergoing radiation therapy and has been very ill the entire time. They have no income and were down to a single diaper and no food. Her social worker at the hospital told us that the baby's clothing was too small as well. Heaven only knows how much what you gave for these gift cards meant to this mother. $500 Wal-mart card and $300 Kroger Card These went to a family of six. There are four children in this family but no parents - the maternal grandparents are raising the children. Neither of the parents is involved in the children's lives at all and the youngest child (8 years old) has terminal cancer. These grandparents obviously didn't count on raising their four grandchildren and didn't save the money to do so. The grandfather has gone back to work teaching and caring for the three children at home, while the grandmother lives at the hospital with the youngest child. $600 in grocery store gift certificates These went to families who are staying in Atlanta for several months while their child is being treated, but they live out of town. Eating out gets very expensive and grocery money was much needed. $78 in pre-paid phone cards These also went to families who are temporarily living in Atlanta. It's very important to them to be able to stay "connected" to family and friends at home. Everybody at home wants to know how the child is doing. $225 Target and The Disney Store This money was spent to buy videotapes for the AFLAC Cancer Center. Many of the children were constantly asking the Child Life staff for more videos (especially Disney) to watch while being treated for their cancer/blood disorders in the hospital. They are wonderful for the kids to have as a distraction when getting unpleasant treatments or just to help pass the time. We bought 16 videos, including many Disney classics. (Thanks to the Pilcher family, we also later donated "Finding Nemo"!) $2500 in other Wal-mart Gift Cards These cards have been given to several different families who have children battling cancer along with Anna. These families however are truly struggling financially. (We usually choose to purchase the cards from Wal-mart because they can use them for food, clothing, diapers, or whatever they need most.) I'm sure there are other examples that I've written many of you about that I can't recall at the moment, but you can surely see how special your gifts have been. We are so grateful to you and for you. In the New Year, our prayer for you is that you will be blessed the way you have blessed so many other families - most of all, our own. Happy Holidays! Lisa, Larry and Anna Back to Updates Page


	Copyright 2006 Anna's Angel Fund Design by Katy Morgan Designs Email the Webmaster