Kids Helping Kids - Charity, Civics & Big Hearts

Kids Helping Kids

I am very proud to say that when I finally felt it was appropriate to tell my daughter about a tragic incident which befell a friend of hers from a prior elementary school, my daughter took the initiative (I did not suggest it) to gather her friends and organize a lemonade and candy sale in our neighborhood with very little adult intervention, only minor guidance, to help out the Friends of Olivia Foundation. She and the neighborhood kids spent two days pulling together with little adult help to sell lemonade and candy (or at least solicit donations) at 50 cents each. Due to their diligence, they raised $100 and I was so proud of all of them!!! Leave it to children...

Olivia is a 9 year old girl, who until recently was healthy and athletic [Read our local news article from 10/31/07 here with pictures.]. Tragically, she one day started having trouble with her legs and fell. Her father and mother took her to urgent care, which suggested she be moved to a large regional medical facility. While there, her limbs went numb and over two days, she became paralyzed from the neck down. She has had many complications, is finally breathing on her own through a trach, but there are no answers to why this has happened. There is no spinal cord injury that anyone can detect and they have not been able to attribute it to any other known cause. She has been in the hospital since August 13th, 2007 and her parents are hoping to be able to raise the money, through the help of friends, neighbors and community and the kindness of strangers to bring her home where they will need a house equipped to deal with her special needs, plus the right wheel chair which can be mouth operated and outside care.

Spinal cord injuries, especially one of this magnitude are relatively uncommon in children. Please pray for Olivia, as this is unimaginably stressful for her, her family and those who know her. If you would like to contribute to the Olivia Beam Foundation in any amount the address to send a check of any amount is (Please note on the check you heard about it through Java Jane's Vox Blog):

Friends of Olivia

P.O. Box 4004
Middletown, NY 10941
Friends of Oliva Foundation Website

Let's be as compassionate and helpful as our children. Once again, big props to them, and prayers and support for Olivia and the Beam family.

Comments

[Dawn d]

Iam interested in helping the Foundation, do you know where i can send in donations and how i can find out more information.

[Java Jane]

The address was included to send a check/donation. I guess it turned
black and became unreadable! Oh no! Anyway, it's listed in red at the
end of the article now. Thanks for your compassion and help. I also
linked to a local news paper article with the full story and pictures
of Olivia and her struggle at the beginning of my post, added today.

JJ