Day 3: Serious medical conditions weigh families down | Christmas Connection cases 2021
Over the next week, the Tallahassee Democrat is partnering with Catholic Charities on the Christmas Connection to spotlight local families who need help this Christmas. Here's how you can help.
How to help: Christmas Connection: How you can change lives for a struggling local family
Day 1: Homelessness, illness, adoptions strain families | Christmas Connection cases 2021
Day 2: Day 2: Single father, widowed mom try to make ends meet | Christmas Connection cases 2021
CASE #184: Children with medical issues
This single mother has two children with disabilities. The oldest has seizure disorder and speech difficulty. The younger child has frontal bossing and metatarsus adductus which makes it difficult to walk.
Critical items: Age appropriate books/funny stories for children; toiletries and cleaning supplies
Suggested gifts:
Mother, Age 40: Pots and pans, king comforter, queen sheets, books
Daughter, Age 11: Arts and crafts supplies, board games, play dough, slime
Daughter, Age 8: Arts and crafts supplies, baby doll, baby stroller/wagon
CASE #193: Family of 5
The father of this family works in housekeeping full-time, however, the family is still very low income and has trouble paying bills. The mother stays home to care for their young children. The younger daughter has a chromosomal disorder (16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome), effecting weight and immunity. She also has speech and learning delays related to the syndrome. Their son is believed to have the same disorder but is awaiting testing. The older child also has a seizure disorder and is on medication for the issue.
Critical items: Food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, baby diapers, large/2T
Suggested gifts:
Mother, Age 25: Art supplies, books
Father, Age 27: Full size electric blanket, DVD player
Daughter, Age 5: Kitchen/cooking play set, Barbie doll, Loves Peppa pig items
Daughter, Age 4: Barbie doll, toddler toys, Loves Sponge Bob
Son, Age 2: Football/sports equipment, toddler toys, outside toys
CASE #209: Mother and non-verbal son
This family of two consists of a 9-year-old boy and his mother. They recently moved into a Habitat for Humanity home after being on the wait list for three years. The son has cerebral palsy, unspecified and is a total care patient. He is non-ambulatory, non-verbal, no use of his hands and cannot sit up without assistance. His other diagnoses include medically fragile chronic pulmonary disphasia and seizure disorder. Through his State Medicaid Pan Sunshine Health, he receives 24/7 LPN care from Interim Home Health.
His primary medical care is in Tallahassee; however, his medical specialists are in Gainesville and Jacksonville. His LPN supports the son during the school day with tube feeding, medications, and toileting needs. His mother suffered a stroke several years ago related to her Lupus condition, leaving her with a lack of strength/mobility in her left hand. The family relies on her income from part-time work at a call center and from Social Security benefits. Because his interactions are limited due to his medical conditions, gifts that engage his sense of sight are desired.
Critical items: None listed.
Suggested gifts
Mother, Age 48: Pots and pans, queen comforter, stand-alone mixer
Son, Age 9: CD/MP3 player, ear buds/headphones, Betty Boop DVDs
CASE #216: Mother with cerebral palsy
This single mother with three children has cerebral palsy. Her family will have to move out of their trailer during the holidays, causing great financial burden. Her disability keeps her from working and it is hard for her to get around in her wheelchair. The children need clothing: Girls size 24 mos/2T and the twin boys need shirts and pants, size 8, shoes size 5. The boys would like bunk beds.
Critical items: Food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, blankets, four throws, diapers, size 5
Suggested gifts
Mother, Age 30: Jewelry, heater, XL shirt, pants
Son, Age 6: Bike and helmet, scooter, tablet
Son, Age 6: Bike and helmet, scooter, tablet
Daughter, Age 1: Baby/toddler toys, diapers size 5
CASE #218: On-the-job injuries
In this family of four, the father received life-threatening injuries on his job and was hospitalized for two months. He was the only family member providing financial support. Now that he is discharged, he will require hours of physical therapy and working will be difficult.
Critical items: Orthopedic walking cane, food, toiletries, cleaning items, clothes for the children
Suggested gifts
Father, Age 43: Pots and pans, heater
Mother, Age 31: Full electric blanket, coffee maker
Son, Age 10: Remote control toy, tablet, Clothing – Pants size 16, shirt size 18, shoes men’s 7
Son, Age 4: Toy cars, action figures, Paw Patrol items, Clothing – pants. Shirt, Shoes 11 boys
How to help
Donate in person: Drop off donated items at the Christmas Connection warehouse at 2990-2 Apalachee Parkway, next to the Supervisor of Elections office. The warehouse is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Days of operation are Nov. 20-23 and Nov. 28 to Dec. 20. Deadline for donated items is Dec. 15. Donations can also be dropped off at Morningstar Storage, 5600 Roanoke Trail, Tallahassee. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Wish List: Shop early and shop easy with the Christmas Connection Amazon wish list. You can view the wish list at the website TheChristmasConnection.org.
Blanket Day: Drop off new blankets and heaters from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Apalachee Parkway location. A volunteer will help you unload your car.
Donate online or by mail: Make a monetary donation online at TheChristmasConnection.org or send a check to Christmas Connection, P.O. Box 20165, Tallahassee, FL 32316.
Adopt a family: Complete a brief request form on the website and a family in need will be assigned to you by the volunteer adoption coordinator. All families are referred to us from social service organizations in the Big Bend area.
Host a Christmas Connection collection drive or holiday party: Gather people from your office, school, church, sports team, family or friends and host a party or collection drive to benefit neighbors in need. You can sign up online on the website and then collect gift items, gift cards and/or monetary donations, which can be brought to the collection site.
Volunteer: You can sign up on the website to donate your time and talents. Due to COVID, there is a limit on how many people can volunteer at one time.
Most needed items this year: Bikes, gift cards, blankets, towels, teenage gifts, heaters (electric/space), housewares, diapers and nonperishable foods. All donations must be new.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Day 3: Medical conditions weigh on families | Christmas Connection 2021
