Medically Urgent Relocation for the Brooke Family
Donation protected
Emily is a single parent and full-time caregiver to twins Ry and Kaia, her young adult children with special needs. The family has just learned that their landlord is selling their house, and they must find a new home by October 15.
While Emily has long been saving to relocate closer to the medical specialists that Kaia and Ry require, this date is far sooner than she can afford, due to the catch-22 of the extraordinary expenses involved in medical travel (around $100/day, $400-$800 per trip, 2-3 times monthly). They regularly travel 300 miles or more roundtrip from where they live in the CA Sierra Foothills for medical care.
Ry has Down syndrome and multiple associated, ongoing health complications. He has a feeding tube, and requires his mom's assistance with dressing and all bathroom/personal hygiene tasks. Kaia lives with an iron metabolism dysfunction for which she needs regular in-hospital infusions.
"We have been to the Bay Area 26 times since January 1," Emily says. "Sometimes we do an overnight and batch two days of appointments together." The family was priced out of the Bay Area years ago, so she hopes to find something they can swing financially in reasonable driving distance of UCLA's Divisions of Digestive Diseases and of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism for Ry's and Kaia's continuity of care.
I started this campaign on Emily's behalf simply because if anyone deserves a hand in improving her family's day-to-day lives, health, and well-being, it's this incredible mother, friend, person. Emily has been a fierce and tireless (no matter how tired!) advocate for her disabled children from their premature birth (weighing in at under three pounds each), precarious early days, and extended stay in neonatal intensive care.
She has been parenting solo (a status not of her choosing) since the twins were toddlers. She has raised two loving, empathetic humans who make the world a sweeter place.
The Brooke family needs to raise an additional $6,000-8,000 to cover moving costs and first-last-security deposit, as soon as possible.
I hope you'll help out however you're able. Thank you! XOXO
While Emily has long been saving to relocate closer to the medical specialists that Kaia and Ry require, this date is far sooner than she can afford, due to the catch-22 of the extraordinary expenses involved in medical travel (around $100/day, $400-$800 per trip, 2-3 times monthly). They regularly travel 300 miles or more roundtrip from where they live in the CA Sierra Foothills for medical care.
Ry has Down syndrome and multiple associated, ongoing health complications. He has a feeding tube, and requires his mom's assistance with dressing and all bathroom/personal hygiene tasks. Kaia lives with an iron metabolism dysfunction for which she needs regular in-hospital infusions.
"We have been to the Bay Area 26 times since January 1," Emily says. "Sometimes we do an overnight and batch two days of appointments together." The family was priced out of the Bay Area years ago, so she hopes to find something they can swing financially in reasonable driving distance of UCLA's Divisions of Digestive Diseases and of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism for Ry's and Kaia's continuity of care.
I started this campaign on Emily's behalf simply because if anyone deserves a hand in improving her family's day-to-day lives, health, and well-being, it's this incredible mother, friend, person. Emily has been a fierce and tireless (no matter how tired!) advocate for her disabled children from their premature birth (weighing in at under three pounds each), precarious early days, and extended stay in neonatal intensive care.
She has been parenting solo (a status not of her choosing) since the twins were toddlers. She has raised two loving, empathetic humans who make the world a sweeter place.
The Brooke family needs to raise an additional $6,000-8,000 to cover moving costs and first-last-security deposit, as soon as possible.
I hope you'll help out however you're able. Thank you! XOXO
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Patton Pellegrino
Organizer
Key West, FL
Emily Brooke
Beneficiary