Young Family Devastated
A married couple that both worked as successful sales executives in the broadcasting industry find themselves today in a situation that is simply unimaginable. The wife and mother of two small children was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 2005. This rare and paralyzing disease, in a very short time, has claimed the exhuberant life that she enjoyed. She is fed intravenously and relies on breathing support to survive. She is aware of her surroundings, can see and hear her children but can neither hold nor communicate with them.
Her heartbroken husband is now raising their children, ages 7 and 10, while he tries to cope with the cruel reality that confronts them every day. Their family situation appears as if it could not get any worse. But there is also a pressing financial need. The husband left his prosperous sales career five years ago because he needed to step in and save the family printing business since his own father's health was failing. He made the commitment to invest most of his resources into the business only to watch it fail financially.
This loss of income coupled with staggering home heath care costs have stripped away any safety net that the family saved. Although siblings are trying to assist financially, their contributions are meager compared to the monthly debt.
At this moment, our colleagues and their children are in jeopardy of losing their home due to foreclosure.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America is there for them.
You can help by making a contribution to the Broadcasters Foundadtion of America.
This message made possible by the McCormick Foundation Journalism Program.