CASE 61 • Mrs. T suffered an aneurysm last year that led to a stroke; she’s now paralyzed on her left side. She is bedridden and the constant care she requires is provided by her family. Mr. T has a heart condition which cost him his job. Their two younger children, 9 and 11, have put their lives on hold in order to help their mother. The couple’s two adult sons have autism. The family has had to make enormous sacrifices just to be able to stay together, and there’s nothing to put toward Christmas. They would appreciate any assistance you can give.
CASE 62 • Mr. R is a single father of five high-spirited boys between the ages of 10 and 18. Four are his biological sons; the fifth is the son of his deceased girlfriend. Mr. R, 56, is overwhelmed. He was laid off from work, and a few of the boys are acting up at school. Counseling is helping one of the boys.
CASE 63 • Several years ago M became a father and sole caretaker to three young girls when he took in his nephew’s children. He cared for two of the girls when their parents were incarcerated, then their mother gave birth to a third child, so M adopted all three. It was very important to M to keep the girls together, but his new family has multiplied his expenses. The girls are now 10, 7 and 6 and need clothes, and the family could use financial assistance.
Case profiles by Sarah Bryan Miller, Jesse Bogan and Rachel Rice of the Post-Dispatch.
