Faith’s Lodge Family Shares Their PHS Experience
Back in 2007 Pediatric Home Service was lucky enough to come across an organization that we felt perfectly fit our mission and really helped PHS to complete the circle of care for the families we care for, and our partnership with Faith’s Lodge has been growing ever since. Most recently 30 PHS volunteers went to Faith’s Lodge for our annual spring clean-up and cooking event, but there was a fun twist this year. We were able to combine our annual Faith’s Lodge PHS volunteerism event with the Faith’s Lodge Tree Planting day!
In partnership with Faith’s Lodge Family Outreach Committee, PHS supplied food for lunch and our volunteers cooked and served the meal to all of the hungry tree planters. In addition to providing lunch and serving the meal, PHSers planted the remaining 8 trees that were purchased to help rebuild the forest surrounding the lodge after the storm left the area barren last Fall. It was a wonderful day and PHS was glad to be a part. See below for a slideshow of pictures from the event.
PHS Family Story: The Elias family
While up at the lodge I was told about a family who had used PHS services when they brought their son Brandon home from the hospital. The Elias family shared a small piece of their story with Faith’s Lodge followers in the last e-newsletter. We wanted to pass along the great testament written by Kari Elias, a part of the Faith’s Lodge Family Outreach Committee and a past PHS family. It is such a blessing to everyone at PHS when we are able to help families transition from the hospital to home. Thank you, Kari, for allowing us to share your story.
Our first born son, Brandon, was born with a rare genetic disorder called Zellweger Syndrome. Zellweger is a disorder that has no cure and most children born with it do not live longer than six months. It causes the body to not produce enough very long chain fatty acid, essentially shutting down the body’s major organs, including the liver, kidney and brain. When Brandon was born, we expected a normal birth, and we were excited to bring our baby home. Our expectations were met with a much harsher reality. We spent 17 days in the hospital, running test after test, trying to determine what our future would hold. It was stressful and scary. Once we were told of our son’s terminal diagnosis, we decided it was time to go home.
We went home to live life and enjoy any moment we were given with Brandon. We learned in the NICU that they would be referring us to a service to help us get supplies we needed. To be honest, I did not even know the company was Pediatric Home Service until after Brandon passed. All I knew was that each week the supplies we needed to care for our son would show up at our home. After he passed away we received a card from PHS sharing their condolences. At that moment, I realized how much I appreciated what PHS did for us. I not once had to think about getting my son’s supplies. They just appeared at the door. At the time, I had no idea what a time-saver that was, and the important gift of time that PHS shared with our family. Brandon Patrick Elias was born on July 19th, 2006. He lived for 2 months and 14 days. He changed our life forever, and we are so thankful to PHS for making every minute count.
Originally published: May 18, 2012