Jack's Helping Hand Newsletter

Page 1

“W ere

Newsletter, Winter 2013

eH e’r

Jack 2001-2004

to Lend a Hand”

It’s hard to believe that 2013 is already coming to a close. This incredible community’s consistent generosity, from virtually every corner of the County, has again allowed Jack’s Helping Hand to keep up with the ever growing needs and demands of our special needs children. 2013 was a year that we will always remember! By year end, our assistance program was helping nearly one new child every day. Our 2013 Seventh Annual Benefit Auction and BBQ at the Santa Margarita Ranch was a sell-out, and the members of our community in attendance firmly established 2013 as the year that provided more support for our programs than we ever imagined possible. The Imagination Park Fall Classic, has now been established as an annual golf tournament raising funds for the Jack Ready Imagination Park, which recently received a grading permit to allow our dream park to finally take shape. We’ve now established a beautiful and generously donated business office at 1155 Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo, where we welcome clients and families for our assistance programs We sadly bade farewell to Mary Illingworth who reluctantly chose to retire in October. Mary served as our Charitable Administrator from the formation and creation of Jack’s Helping Hand, We welcomed Steve Hollister to our Board of Directors and Karen Borges as our new Executive Director, both have already proven to be valuable assets to Jack’s Helping Hand. Bridget and I had a dream when we established Jack’s Helping Hand, and we still dream about Jack’s Imagination Park but it’s each of you, as a part of our community that has made these dreams a reality. If you’re reading this newsletter, we know that it’s you that makes each of these good works possible, and we will continue to do everything possible to fulfill your faith and trust. Through your support, assistance and good wishes we will together continue to make wonderful things happen for some very special children. Please accept our thanks!

Paul and Bridget Ready

A Cha

rit able Non-Profit

ah Rock n Jo ODAY T Jonah Rock’s story is one of miracles. The journey began when Jonah was 15 weeks old in his mother’s womb and was threatened by a miscarriage, but Jonah survived. Then, at 24 weeks in the womb, Jonah experienced a massive stroke in his left brain, and survived yet again. Unfortunately, Jonah’s stroke would later cause developmental delays and unstoppable seizures, the first of which came when he was 18 months old. Like all of his seizures, it required emergency medical intervention. Jonah would have 6-12 of these seizures a year, all of them lasting an average of one to three hours. Jonah made it through all of these seizures, and in the midst of the struggle remained his joyful, curious, and compassionate self. He was put on multiple anti-seizure medications but all of them failed. Finally, a group of doctors at UCLA determined that the only hope of giving Jonah a life free of seizures (and avoiding death caused by seizure) was to perform a hemispherectomy, the removal of Jonah’s entire left brain. On October 25, 2012, Jonah successfully underwent surgery at UCLA medical center, spent two weeks in the ICU, and then spent three weeks at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to relearn how to walk. Throughout this entire journey, Jack’s Helping Hand was able to make a profound difference for Jonah and his family. The organization provided an amazing bed that allowed Jonah to sleep peacefully and be safely contained. When the family traveled to UCLA for the surgery, JHH provided gas cards and paid for their lodging at the Ronald McDonald House at CHLA. Seeing positive change in the lives of children like Jonah keeps JHH going strong. We are thrilled to celebrate Jonah’s progress and the miracles that have contributed to his amazing life story. “What can I say about JHH? Being a parent of a child with special needs is appropriately characterized as a journey of joy, fear, and fatigue. JHH has made that journey easier. We are forever grateful for JHH!”- Andy & April Rock

1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.