Although the pandemic has affected both fund raising as well as the timing for helping families, we just completed another request from Primary Children’s’ Hospital for assistance.
Jai Jai Eduardo Lopez was born August 31 of this year in Idaho Falls, ID. He was quite premature and suffers from Necrotizing enterocolitis, which is a devastating disease that affects mostly the intestine of premature infants. The wall of the intestine is invaded by bacteria, which cause local infection and inflammation that can ultimately destroy the wall of the bowel. He has been in the NICU at Primary Children’s since shortly after being born.
Mom had to borrow a family member vehicle to drive the 188 miles and is currently staying at the Ronald McDonald house so she can be with Jai Jai. Dad has been traveling as he can but has had to travel on public transportation as he has no reliable vehicle for the journey. As mom stated in her application travel expenses have made an already tight budget even tighter and having to juggle rent, living expenses on top of the extraordinary medical expense has become very difficult.
In their request, they asked for help with travel expenses. After a quick review by the funding committed the Foundation agreed to buy a $500 gift certificate at Salt Lake Express for Dad to use to come to Salt Lake City to see his son as often as needed for the next few months.
We are once again humbled and honored to help alleviate some of the stress of caring for a special needs child. It was a wonderful way to finish the year and gave true meaning to the Holiday Season.
As always, thanks to all that have donated during this difficult year. We have been able to answer every call to date and honor the requests of the Social Work group at Primary Childrens.
As we enter 2021, we will continue our mission as long as we have money and the need. We have now validated our Mission Statement and the process for helping families. We hope to add additional hospitals and/or locations in 2021 and will be ramping up our fundraising efforts. We look forward to the challenge.