Case 1: Lou Gehrig's disease robs father of livelihood

Mr. K was a young, healthy lab researcher studying the cause of neuromuscular diseases when ironically, he was diagnosed with one of the diseases he was researching. For 25 years, ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, has taken away his ability to walk, talk and swallow. He was only able to work …

Nov 12, 2010 | 3:09 pm

• Related:

Case 2: Widow and child fled Myanmar's ethnic violence

At 21, J finds herself a widow raising a small child in a country to which she is still trying to acclimate. J arrived here in August 2010 as a refugee from Myanmar, formerly Burma, due to ethnic violence. That violence followed the family to a refugee camp in Thailand, where J's husband …

Nov 12, 2010 | 3:46 pm

Case 3: Family lost nearly everything in fire

Ms. C had just returned from shopping when she placed a bag on her stove. It caught fire and within minutes so did her home. She and her two children lost nearly everything — clothing, furniture, the house itself. What little they were able to salvage was later ruined in a flood while the…

Nov 12, 2010 | 3:52 pm

Case 4: Woman seeks to provide for grandchildren

Mrs. S is 47 and cares for her three grandchildren, ages 3 to 8, with her husband in a two-bedroom house. The children's mother suffers from a mental illness and left them at home alone with no food before they went to live with their grandparents. Her husband has been unemployed for the …

Nov 15, 2010 | 10:50 am

Case 5: Teen helps mom return to college

R is a 15-year-old with developmental disorders and ADHD who cares for her 8-year-old twin brothers most of the time while their mother attends St. Louis Community College full time and works part time to support them. Her mother's part-time job provides less than $600 a month, leaving R'…

Nov 15, 2010 | 11:00 am

Case 6: Mom is fighting her way out of homelessness

Ms. L has worked hard to provide for herself and her six children — after spending the last two years in a homeless program, she secured a job as a certified nurse's assistant and just recently moved into a permanent home. She's saved enough money to pay outstanding utility bills and othe…

Nov 15, 2010 | 11:15 am

Case 7: Couple struggles with autistic grandson

Mr. and Mrs. A are caring for their 16-year-old grandson, who is autistic and sometimes shows violent behaviors that require him to be hospitalized. The grandparents both have numerous health problems. The family tries to budget but usually runs out of food by the middle of the month. The…

Nov 16, 2010 | 10:54 am

Case 8: Grandmother cares for 7 children

Even though 44-year-old W started young, the single mom isn't close to being an empty nester. She has 11 children — several with disabilities — and 11 grandchildren. Out of the mix, she cares for seven children, ages 16 down to an infant who recently got out of a coma and is described as …

Nov 16, 2010 | 10:59 am

Case 9: Disabled veteran needs assistance

Mr. G is an Army veteran. He is 53 and has been hospitalized four times this year for treatment of hypertension, an enlarged heart, fainting spells and breathing problems. He lives with relatives because he has no income and cannot pay rent. He asks for bus passes, winter clothing, eyegla…

Nov 17, 2010 | 12:42 pm

Case 10: Car accident upends family

In addition to caring for her own three children, Ms. Y has taken in her 4-year-old niece. But they suffered a cruel blow a few months ago when they were involved in a car accident. Two of the children suffered serious injuries. They missed months of school, and Ms. Y was forced to leave …

Nov 17, 2010 | 12:52 pm

Case 11: Woman cares for children and twin brothers

Ms. H is just 24, but she has three young children of her own and is also providing for her twin 17-year-old brothers. Her father is very sick and has had many surgeries in the last couple of years. Her mother is addicted to drugs and comes in and out of their lives. Ms. H works as a wait…

Nov 17, 2010 | 12:56 pm

Case 12: Family used to giving now needs aid

This family of four has suffered a downward spiral of financial setbacks following a car accident that left Dad, 40, severely injured and on disability. He has brain and shoulder injuries and is unable to return to work. His short term disability of $797 a month does not cover the family'…

Nov 18, 2010 | 12:38 pm

Case 13: Ailments are stacking up against widow

Ms. X, a widow supported by Social Security checks and a cane, watches the twilight of her life through one eye — her left. Glaucoma claimed the other. Since she broke her hip, the 87-year-old can't get to the basement to do laundry. The gift of a stack washer and dryer for the kitchen wo…

Nov 18, 2010 | 12:41 pm

Case 14: Family yearns for recreation

The new community recreation center built near Ms. K's home was a cruel tease. Construction of the facility brought excitement, but when it opened just before Christmas last year, the membership fee was too much for Ms. K, 50, a single mother unemployed since 2008. She takes care of six k…

Nov 18, 2010 | 12:43 pm

Case 15: Refugee widow cares for 3 children

N is an African refugee who witnessed her husband's murder during war in their home country. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other health issues. As a widow raising three children, she could use help with some basics such as clothing. Specifically, she has …

Nov 19, 2010 | 12:45 pm

Case 16: Woman still suffers from accident injuries

Ms. C, 57, was injured in a car accident in 2005. She suffered back and neck injuries and gets disability benefits. She has trouble paying her rent and other bills. She sleeps on a cold water bed because she cannot afford a heating pad for the bed. Her washing machine leaks, which increas…

Nov 19, 2010 | 1:00 pm

Case 17: Water damage adds to family's plight

P was already dealing with spinal disease and breast cancer that had pretty much incapacitated her, when torrents of rain came pouring from the sky one day.

Nov 19, 2010 | 1:03 pm

Case 18: Brain tumor afflicts mother

A series of health problems keeps L and her family struggling to pay their basic bills each month, including rent for a house with missing windows. L has had surgery for a brain tumor, and still suffers from vision and memory problems, making it hard to find and maintain work. Her son, 13…

Nov 20, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 19: Two children battle muscular dystrophy

Two of Ms. N’s five children suffer severe disabilities as a result of muscular dystrophy, with her oldest, 10, using a wheelchair. Frequent hospital visits and doctor appointments are difficult because the family cannot afford necessary repairs for its broken-down automobile. Despite foo…

Nov 20, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 20: Paralyzed woman still caring for elderly mother

Paralyzed from the chest down as a result of contracting polio as a child, Ms. J, 72, still manages to care not only for herself but also for her mother, 96. That is getting progressively more difficult, however, as Ms. J has developed arthritis, osteoporosis and hypertension.

Nov 21, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 21: Husband and wife both unemployed

Mr. B and his wife are looking for jobs, but until they find employment, they are struggling to raise six children — ages 4 to 17 — on a fixed income of less than $725 a month. Any donations could make this family’s holiday season a little brighter. Specifically, Mr. B says, they could us…

Nov 21, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 22: Mother suffers from Scleroderma

Ms. Q has four children and suffers from Scleroderma, a chronic disease that causes a buildup of scar tissue and damages internal organs. She is 32 and cannot work. Her children take care of her, and the family’s income is just enough to keep them from becoming homeless. Ms. Q asks for gi…

Nov 21, 2010 | 12:45 am

Case 23: Elderly woman loses only caregiver

At age 85, Mrs. K continues to live independently, out of necessity as much as a fighting spirit. She recently lost her grandson, her only able-bodied relative, in a car accident. She has a son with diabetes who can not help in her care.

Nov 22, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 24: Woman adopts needy children

Ms. A has accepted a challenge at which others have failed. A foster parent to a pair of sisters for two years, Ms. A made the commitment to adopt the girls after watching them suffer through three failed adoptions.

Nov 22, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 25: Mother loses child to SIDS

This mother of two young children saw her life take a tragic turn last year when her baby died of SIDS. She stopped her studies at the University of Phoenix, using her tuition money to pay for the baby’s funeral.

Nov 22, 2010 | 12:45 am

Case 26: Boy faces cerebral palsy and poverty

J is a happy, active 11-year-old boy who has cerebral palsy and a communication disorder. He loves to watch TV and play with animals. In August, both his parents lost their jobs. Mom is not receiving unemployment benefits; Dad is, but not much. Between that and J’s social security benefit…

Nov 23, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 27: Fire devastates family

A fire damaged the home of a mother and her two disabled sons and left the family financially devastated. The home wasn’t covered by insurance and many of their belongings were damaged or ruined. The 11-year-old, S, and D, 13, need clothing and a twin bed. The mom, 42, has lung disease an…

Nov 23, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 28: Single dad struggles with large family

For five years, Mr. Z has struggled but has always found a way to nurture and provide for his six children, ranging from age 4 to 19. He has been on his own since the death of his wife, who lay down to take a nap in 2005 and never woke up. The family’s situation grew more desperate three …

Nov 24, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 29: In need of a job

Mrs. P was a social worker for nine years before the down economy cost the 48-year-old her job. When she finally landed a new one, two weeks later she was struck by a car while crossing the street and sustained serious injuries. Her medical costs caused her bills to mount, including an un…

Nov 24, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 30: Growing family needs the essentials

When Ms. W was 7, her mother committed suicide, leaving behind four girls. An aunt took them in, but only for the money. Ms. W and her sisters were mistreated and neglected.

Nov 24, 2010 | 12:45 am

Case 31: Injured man needs help with family

Two years ago, someone shot Mr. M three times. The single father of six children underwent several surgeries to repair damage, but two of the bullets were too dangerous to remove.

Nov 25, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 32: Miedical issues, bills continue to mount

This St. Louis family of four is struggling to make ends meet after the father was laid off. Shortly thereafter, the older son was diagnosed with brain stem tumors. The son has had five surgeries, several hospitalizations and needs to travel to Memphis for treatments. He has difficulty ta…

Nov 25, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 33: A radio could make all the difference

Mr. H is the kind of senior who loves to tell stories about the "olden days." When he gets dressed up, he still shines his shoes. He likes to listen to the ball game on the radio.

Nov 25, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 34: Soldier, sister could use furniture

M, 22, is in the National Guard and recently returned after a one-year deployment overseas. He lives in an apartment with his 15-year-old sister, F, whom he was granted guardianship of after their mother was hospitalized for mental health problems. M is looking for a job and also facing t…

Nov 26, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 35: Ice skates top wish list

Getting by was always a stretch for this 45-year-old mother of five children — including an adult son with a developmental disability who lives at home.

Nov 26, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 36: Quadriplegic in need of a generator

J, 25, has quadriplegia and depends on a ventilator. He relies on others for all of his care and health needs. J recently moved into a home that does not have a backup for his life-support equipment. A recent power outage highlighted J’s need for a gas generator and power cords to help ke…

Nov 26, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 37: Refugee struggles with family

This 41-year-old refugee from Ghana suffered months of rape and torture in a prison camp in the African country of Togo. She was imprisoned for being a political activist and was bound with ropes.

Nov 27, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 38: Mom could use help with 5 kids

This mom of five young children has been for years fighting a chronic illness that has left her toothless and without the ability to work steadily to fully support her family.

Nov 27, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 39: Dad wants bed linens, clothes for kids

When Mr. N lost his wife in a recent car accident, his life started crumbling. His 6-year-old daughter suffered a serious brain injury in the accident, and most of his wages went toward the medical costs. With his income depleted, he was forced to move in with his aging mother, bringing h…

Nov 28, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 40: Help needed with car repairs

Ms. M is raising her three grand-nephews, ages 11, 8 and 5, because their parents cannot. The oldest boy’s mother died from cancer when he was 3. The other boys’ mother was a drug addict unable to care for them. Ms. M wanted to take care of them so they would not have to go into foster ca…

Nov 28, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 41: Family of 11 could use everything

KL has the needs of nine children, ages 1 to 17, resting on her shoulders. In addition, her mother, who has lung cancer, is in her care. KL’s brother had helped support the family, but he was killed in June. Although KL works, she is behind on her bills, including paying for her brother’s…

Nov 28, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 42: Family could use a computer

The life of NJ took a terrible turn in January when a truck ran her off the road. Her vehicle overturned and she was ejected, suffering eye injuries, several broken ribs and two fractures of the spine. NJ, a 39-year-old single mother of four children, will not be able to return to work an…

Nov 29, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 43: Son's hospitalization puts mom's job in jeopardy

Much of 12-year-old D’s Christmas week will likely be spent in the hospital. D, who has cerebral palsy and is visually impaired, is scheduled for surgery on his legs and a foot and is having a procedure done on his eyes. D also struggles with delays in his motor skills and ADHD.

Nov 29, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 44: Mom needs answer to 'house hopping'

At just 21, this young mother is facing homelessness after being repeatedly victimized and then turned away by family members. After she and her 2-year-old daughter were evicted from their apartment, they have lived in a homeless shelter and a boyfriend’s apartment, where she was beaten.

Nov 29, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 45: Abused woman asks for a Target gift card

J, 16, comes from a home of abuse and neglect. She was injured when her mother’s boyfriend shot her in the head with a BB gun. She was removed from her home because of unsanitary conditions and lack of food, and has been living at Good Shepherd Children and Family Services residential hom…

Nov 30, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 46: Woman, child flee abusive home

For five years, she endured being kicked and punched by her husband under the false belief that it would be better for their little girl if she kept the marriage intact.

Nov 30, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 47: Refugee hoping to avoid homelessness

L came to the U.S. as a refugee fleeing violence in Congo. A stroke has left him partially paralyzed. L speaks English and has been looking for a job but, like so many others, he has had little luck beyond a few interviews.

Dec 01, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 48: Wheelchair lift would help family

D, 17, lives with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and poor vision and hearing. He needs to use a feeding tube and spends his time in bed or a customized wheelchair. His father has never been involved in his life and his mother is in jail. He now lives happily with his loving grandmothe…

Dec 01, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 49: Expanded family need winter clothes

This out-of-work single mother cares not just for her own three children, but also for three others left by her sister, who died in June. Consequently, living space is an issue. The mother’s weekly unemployment stipend is too small for an extended family of seven and affords no hope of he…

Dec 01, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 50: Ill children have many needs

Ms. M is a 29-year-old single mother of three. Two of her children have serious health problems. Her 12-year-old daughter has asthma and often has to be taken to the emergency room for breathing treatments. Her 1-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer at birth. He has been hospitalized se…

Dec 02, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 51: Fall off ladder hurts entire family

Trouble began for this family of six before coming to the United States from Kyrgyzstan in late 2009. The father fell off a ladder at his job there, spent days in a coma and is not expected to recover fully. Since then, the mother has been responsible for much of his care, which limits he…

Dec 02, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 52: Widow with cancer falls behind on bills

LT is having a challenging year. She lost her husband a few months ago. At 28, she is a widow with three children under 10 and another due soon. More recently, she found out she has cancer. She is awaiting tests to see what treatment she needs. Because of a learning disability, LT can’t h…

Dec 02, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 53: Family could use a microwave

Mr. and Mrs. V are both disabled. He suffers from bipolar disorder and she has Menir’s syndrome, which causes debilitating dizziness and ringing in the ears. When their only child, a daughter, was incarcerated recently for drug use, they took custody of her three young children. The famil…

Dec 03, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 54: Bed high on family's wish list

Mrs. N is 60 and struggles daily to care for a teenage grandson plus a developmentally disabled brother-in-law. She recently separated from her husband and has been diagnosed with a serious illness. Friends say N should move her brother-in-law to a care facility, but her pride has prevent…

Dec 03, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 55: Food, shoes would help family

Ms. A is a single mother of five young children. Abandoned by her husband, she lost her home because she could no longer pay the mortgage. She found a job — only to have to quit because of a curfew at the shelter where she lived. Despite these setbacks, Ms. A keeps trying. She found anoth…

Dec 03, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 56: Man in great need of special shoes

Mr. R was born with clubfeet, so his parents hid him from the outside world. He learned no skills. He had no relationships with anyone other than his parents who died when he was an adult.

Dec 04, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 57: Eight women need help with bills

Three’s a crowd, but in this case, eight’s a family. Ms. J is the sole caregiver for her six daughters and her mother, who has lupus. These eight women share a three-bedroom apartment.

Dec 04, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 58: Medical bills overwhelm woman with breast cancer

D lost her husband and father of her three children, four years ago. Now, in only her mid-30s, she has been told by doctors that she has terminal breast cancer. After D’s husband died, she enrolled in school with the goal of becoming a teacher to support her kids. But now she’s so weakene…

Dec 05, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 59: Diabetic shoes would help woman in pain

Suffering from diabetes, bladder cancer, asthma, thyroid disease and other ailments, Ms. H already had a mountain of troubles. But her situation took a turn for the worse last year, when she lost the job she’d held for seven years as a nurses’ assistant at a senior center.

Dec 05, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 60: Abused woman, kids need help furnishing home

Ms. G is trying to rebuild the lives of she and her two children after surviving a nightmare. She recently moved to the St. Louis area from another state to escape an abusive relationship. She was shot five times in her abdomen and legs, and her children’s lives were threatened.

Dec 05, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 61: Ethiopian family deals with son's tragic death

Ms. A and her six children came to St. Louis three years ago from a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Ms. A, 32, got a job, enrolled her children in school and worked to move her family into a good apartment.

Dec 06, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 62: Son needs help caring for disabled parents

Mr. and Mrs. H’s adult son fears what might happen if he were to leave his parents for long. The last time he did, his father ended up in a hospital.

Dec 06, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 63: Family car needs tires

Bad luck has become Mrs. K’s stalker. A traffic accident years ago left her unable to work. One of her four children has autism and needs constant supervision. A 14-year-old son who helped Mom with his brother recently had knee surgery and is sidelined. Their finances are chaotic; her dis…

Dec 06, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 64: 3-year-old lacks a bed

A 3-year-old is sleeping on a pallet on the floor because his grandmother cannot afford a bed for him.

Dec 07, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 65: Grandmother cares for 8

After raising 14 children of her own, Mrs. J, at 76, is now caring for eight grandchildren.

Dec 07, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 66: Family spares 2 kids from foster care

Sickness is weighing on this selfless family of five. Rose is struggling to take care of her husband, who is dying from cancer, as well as her four children, one of whom has thyroid cancer. But that did not stop her from taking in two young boys left on her doorstep by their mother, who w…

Dec 08, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 67: Medical bills mount for grandmother

Mrs. M’s two grandchildren had to move in with her after their mother lost her job. Mrs. M, a three-time cancer survivor with very little means, has been unable to work for years and is now trying to make a home for her grandchildren. Her grandson has a bad heart and her granddaughter has…

Dec 08, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 68: Woman fights abuse, epilepsy

When family became more of a nightmare than a joy, Miss B left home. Sleeping behind strip malls was better than the abuse she got at home, even with her cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She works part time cleaning an office. Recently, she accepted the offer of help from a man who later stol…

Dec 08, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 69: Woman rebuilds after rape

E, 45, was kidnapped and raped several years ago. It left her traumatized.

Dec 09, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 70: Man bears wounds of ethnic conflict

Ethnic conflict drove L and his family out of Burma when he was a child.

Dec 09, 2010 | 12:15 pm

Case 71: Aging mom cares for disabled daughter

A 63-year-old mother is struggling to maintain a home for her 30-year-old daughter, who has severe mental retardation and cannot communicate with words. The mother has a host of health problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, and kidney and heart problems. That makes…

Dec 09, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 72: Paralysis and stroke at age 9

M is a happy 9-year-old girl despite having a stroke at the age of 5 because of a heart malformation. Her list of health problems is long. She is paralyzed on her right side. She has frequent seizures, vision problems and asthma. She is at constant risk of having an aneurism.

Dec 10, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 73: Disorder keeps boy from growing

J and her two children struggle every day.

Dec 10, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 74: Widower moves on, but with lung disease

T doesn’t have much. His wife died a year ago.

Dec 10, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 75: Mother fights physical and mental maladies

Ms. W’s severe anemia and other physical and mental issues have impacted her family in nearly every way. Her health has landed her in the hospital several times for blood transfusions. It makes her chronically tired and ill, which makes her unable to keep a job. And it contributed to 3 1/…

Dec 11, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 76: Woman with multiple sclerosis cares for four

A 40-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis is struggling to care for her four children, including a 14-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy. The mother cannot work, and is finding it increasingly difficult to care for her daughter, who uses a wheelchair. She also has a 9-year-old son an…

Dec 11, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 77: Trauma lingers for Iraqi family

The horror of Iraq may be behind M and F, but the present is precarious. M and F are Iraqi refugees who moved to St. Louis in February with their four children. M survived kidnappings and torture in Iraq. Now he must deal with the trauma of what happened as well as severe back and joint i…

Dec 12, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 78: Child suffers from rare illness

Include among five children two with bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder and a 5-year-old who suffers from a rare disorder that robs him of all movement. That’s what Mrs. A faces every day. Meanwhile, Mrs. A lives with untreated arthritis. An ex-husband pays child support when…

Dec 12, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 79: Woman raising disabled kids alone

L’s husband is serving 10 years in prison, so she’s raising their four boys all alone.

Dec 12, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 80: Former firefighter now fights brain damage

Mr. W has spent his adult life protecting others. Now, he needs protection from poverty. A decorated firefighter for 16 years with the St. Louis Fire Department, he also is a military veteran. A robbery hospitalized him for three months and left him with brain damage. He’s no longer able …

Dec 13, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 81: Throat cancer adds to struggles

N’s life changed drastically this year when she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Her vocal cords and voice box have been removed. She eats through feeding tubes and breathes through a hole in her neck.

Dec 13, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 82: Man and elderly mother need the basics

C, 42, is seriously ill with diabetes, congestive heart failure and hypertension. He also has learning disabilities. He lives with his elderly, disabled mother, 79, in public housing. C sleeps on the floor because they have no money for a bed and bedding. They also lack money for utilitie…

Dec 13, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 83: Mom struggles after murder of daughter

No one is supposed to bury her child. Ms. M has been struggling to support her family while trying to make funeral arrangements for her 19-year-old daughter, who was murdered by her boyfriend. In the meantime, Ms. M and her four other children, ages 6 to 17, found themselves living in a h…

Dec 14, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 84: Single father raises three kids

S is a single father raising his three children, ages 6 to 11. The family home was nearly destroyed by fire, but S is trying to restore the home while trying to keep up with bills. Most of their belongings, including most of the furniture, were lost in the fire. The family is surviving on…

Dec 14, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 85: Retirement wasn't supposed to be like this

Ms. G never envisioned her later years like this. She is raising seven grandchildren, ages 1 to 9. Two were abandoned by their parents, and the other five were orphaned when their mother, Ms. G’s 25-year-old daughter, died of a blood clot earlier this year. The family is trying to survive…

Dec 15, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 86: Mother facing unemployment, foreclosure

Dec 15, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 87: Veteran faces obstacles

F is a 53-year-old Navy veteran who has been homeless for about two years since a tree fell on the home he was left by his parents. He makes a little money doing carpentry and odd jobs but has been in and out of shelters and depends mostly on charities for food and clothing. F was serious…

Dec 15, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 88: Mother fights cancer while daughter fights cerebral palsy

The R family needs help. Ms. R is the sole support for her two children. Her 12-year-old daughter, B, was born with cerebral palsy and has a seizure disorder. She is not able to communicate, requires a wheelchair and must be fed via a tube into her stomach. Caring for her daughter is a fu…

Dec 16, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 89: Violent attack leads to brain surgeries

If it wasn’t for the horrifying photo of her injuries she carries in her wallet, Mrs. Q might not even remember the violent attack she survived earlier this year. She battles chronic memory loss and migraines and has undergone two brain surgeries the last six months. 

Dec 16, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 90: Man wants to see grandsons

Mr. M would like nothing better than to see his two grandsons in Arkansas for the first time. But with his left leg amputated above the knee and a car in need of repair, he’s not traveling anymore.

Dec 16, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 91: Family yearns to leave transitional housing

A 23-year-old abandoned by her husband shortly after arriving in the United States from Africa,  Ms. A was left to raise three children on her own as she struggled to learn a new language.

Dec 17, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 92: Breast cancer attacks caregiver

Ms. S cares for her 11-year-old autistic son who is nonverbal and sometimes so physically active that he does not sleep during the night and only winds down at 5 a.m. He depends on his mother for help in learning how to take care of his own daily needs. Ms. S is struggling with her own he…

Dec 17, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 93: Carjacking, lung cancer conspire against mom

The circumstances visited upon Mrs. K and her family over the past two years could fill a book. There was the carjacking at gunpoint in her driveway that resulted in Mrs. K losing an uninsured automobile. The inability to cover the burial expenses of her father. And her mother’s recent di…

Dec 17, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 94: Single father seeks something more for 5 kids

A single father on disability is trying to make a home for his five children, ages 4 through 12. Two of the children are disabled. The family had been living in a shelter, where he made every effort to keep his family comfortable despite a lack of air conditioning. On hot days he would mo…

Dec 18, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 95: Raising 8 kids with cancer

C’s family thought things were looking up after she survived a breast cancer scare in 2004. But the cancer returned, and by 2008 it had spread throughout her body. The disease has so ravaged her body that she now requires a power wheelchair. C was fired from her job, and she and her husba…

Dec 18, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 96: Desert Storm vet battles trauma

This 44-year-old veteran of Operation Desert Storm was recently laid off from his job.

Dec 19, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 97: Flood ruins family's possessions

Renting the basement of a family member’s house was the best Ms. T could do this year for herself and her 11-year-old autistic son, J. But the leaky basement soon flooded, leaving behind moldy mattresses and carpeting, and the only furniture they had. Now the single mom and growing boy sh…

Dec 19, 2010 | 12:15 am

Case 98: Woman takes in 3 grandchildren

Ms. W, 55, already had a lot on her plate when she accepted responsibility for raising three grandchildren. Her mentally ill daughter is unable to care for them on her own.

Dec 19, 2010 | 12:30 am

Case 99: Crime witness is attacked

It began with a routine Ms. K. repeated, by habit, several times each and every day.

Dec 20, 2010 | 12:00 am

Case 100: Health problems afflict caregiver of disabled son

For more than 20 years, M has attended to the special needs of her 39-year-old son, who suffered disabling brain injuries in a beating and must use a wheelchair. Now 61, M suffers from congestive heart failure, hypertension and depression. Recently, she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. M…

Dec 20, 2010 | 12:15 am