Founder of Hugs & Hope for Sick Children

I was in an online prayer group where I heard about a 4-yeard old with an inoperable brain tumor. I corresponded with his grandma and we became friends. I sent her grandson some cards and one of the kids' Sunday school classes at church sent him a package. Other friends sent him cards too; and after a while, so many people were asking me how Mikey was doing, that I decided to make him a web page with updates for people to read. After I did that, other families of sick kids heard about it and began emailing me and asking if I would make their kids' web pages too. They wanted their kids to receive cards because they didn't have anything to look forward to and they loved getting mail.

After a while, the site that began as a couple pages with a few kids' stories grew to have a hundred kids featured. Over the past eight years, there have been hundreds of kids involved at various times.

As more and more people got involved sending mail to the kids, we just kept coming up with more ideas like the chat group, the newsletter, the parent pal program (www.hugsandhope.org/parentpals.htm ) the balloon program (www.hugsandhope.org/balloonsfor kids.htm ) the birthday party in a box program (www.hugsandhope.org/birthdayboxes.htm ) and the Christmas Elf project (www.hugsandhope.org/elf.htm ) etc.

#2. Do the parents of the children you help ever write to you?

They write to me all the time telling me how much the HUGS and HOPE group means to them and their kids. One mother said her son kept the cards under his pillow at night and told her, "I can't believe so many people love me." It warms the parents hearts to see their kids smile, because they often haven't seen that for a long time.

Prents tell me that they benefit as much as the kids do. Many of the moms are very lonely because friends and family avoid them when they have a seriously ill child (people can't face it so they ignore it). And if the kids are homebound because their immunity is low and they can't be around people, the whole family is very isolated. Moms have to quit their jobs to stay home and care for the sick child. They don't go anyplace or have fun or receive encouragement from other people. Often, their HUGS and HOPE friends are the only friends they have. Parents grow very close to and dependant on the volunteers who stay in regular email contact with them. Some have even flown across country to meet each other. And many have remained friends long after their sick kids have passed away.

The chat group also helps parents meet other parents who are going through the same things. Two moms met through the chat group and discovered they had sons with the same illness who were the same age and they were in the same hospital at the same time; so they arranged to meet each other. Both their boys were in isolation and could have no visitors for months, so these moms supported each other while they were in the hospital, far from home.

For parents who are going through financial difficulties, the birthday and Christmas gifts they receive from HUGS and HOPE volunteers are often the only gifts they have.

#3. How does it make you feel when you get a thank you note from one of your children?

It makes me feel like the time, effort, and money I invest are well worth it, when it makes such a difference in the kids' lives.

#4. Was there ever a time you felt you just couldnt do it anymore?

Yes, when I used to do all the coordinating and web site work myself. Now I have about a dozen volunteer "staff members" (unpaid) who put in many hours each week. I couldn't keep it all going without them.

#5. Have you ever lost any sleep at night thinking about the children you couldnt really do much for?

People often ask how I can be so involved with kids who are in sad situations without being sad myself all the time, but it actually helps me NOT get depressed; because it's uplifting to know that I can do something to make these kids' lives a little happier. And it keeps me so busy that I don't have time to feel sad.

#6. Is it just small children that your foundation helps or is it all ages?

Kids from 2 years old to 18 can join the group.

#7. How many benifits to you get together per year?

We used to do a lot of benefits, but it was so much work that we don't do that much anymore. We do plan to sponsor one this summer called "Creature Teachers" -- where a man brings various exotic animals for a show where the kids can see, touch, and learn about the animals. It's always a big hit. It helps raise money for our various programs, but it's also a fun and educatucational thing to do for the kids in my community.

#8. Do you have alot of outside help?

Many volunteers do much more work than I do. They are basically the backbone of the whole program.

#9. What does one need to do, to be on your side as far as helping you out and the hugs and hope foundation?

People can get involved in both small and big ways, from sending one card to a child or sending a weekly email of encouragement to a parent to being on the Board of Directors, helping with benefits and raffles, coordinating programs, delivering balloons to kids in the hospital, adopting a kid at Christmas time, helping to grant wishes, and many other things. There's a list of ways people can help at www.hugsandhope.org/help.htm

#10 what is something you would like to say to all parents with children who have a child in need of medical help?

If your child could use some cheer, sign up at www.hugsandhope.org/howto.htm

#11. what is your wish for these families?

I hope that, because of HUGS and HOPE, the kids and their parents feel a little less alone knowing that there are people who care about what they're going through. And I hope their lives are brightened and they are encouraged to "keep on keeping on" through their tough times.

Thank you Marsha for your time today

and thank you for being there for the ones in need.