Making an Impact One Family at a Time
The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to ASRL by Michelle Hoffman, LCSW, Pediatric Outpatient Social Worker at Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN.
Dear Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation,
I want to take a minute to thank you for your generous financial assistance to one of our pediatric oncology families. I stumbled across your website after desperately searching for resources for a single mom with four children, one of whom was newly diagnosed with cancer this summer.
This patient has required numerous hospitalizations and doctors’ visits, all of which are over an hour and a half from their home, and the mom has had to quit her job to take care of her child.
What impressed me most about your organization was the quick response to this family’s urgent need – a utility notice stating their electricity would be turned off the following week. I couldn’t believe it when I received a call from your organization within a day of faxing my referral….I want you to know how appreciative this mom was. She cried on the phone when I called to tell her the good news.
Having a child with cancer is a nightmare come true for most parents. Having agencies like yours, however, helps relieve some of the financial stress that comes along with trying to manage life and cancer….As a social worker I am always grateful for organizations like yours who are professional, caring and strive to assist families on their difficult journey.
