The Kathi Koll foundation provides aid that is personal and unique to each client. That’s the point of it. The foundation steps in, just as a caregiver might, to provide help when no one else is there to give it.
I thought I would share with you two stories of how the generous support of our donors has made the difference in these families’ lives.
Holly Alejo’s older sister, Gigi, 54, has a severe form of epilepsy that requires constant care, including diaper changes, feeding via a tube, frequest medications, and emergency care during grand mal and atonic seizures.
Their mother is the primary caregiver of Gigi, who is non-verbal and will soon undergo her fifth brain surgery. Starting at four years old, Holly also joined the effort. She has been a necessary part of her sister’s care ever since, which initially meant assisting with some of the seizures Gigi had once or twice every hour. Now, Alejo not only takes over at times so her mother can take breaks during the daytime, but also takes the night shift to ensure that her sister has loving care through each seizure while her mother gets some rest.
In addition, Alejo is a single mother with two sons who works as a full-time caregiver during the day. When the Kathi Koll Foundation learned of her situation, she was provided a $1,500 Amazon gift card to make things a little easier and allow her to have a cushion that might help with both necessities and desires.
“I have no time or resources to care for myself,” Alejo said, but the gift card has allowed her to buy scrubs for work, gas for her car, essential oils and gentle music to help her relax, and shoes with arch support, since she’s on her feet all day. “My heart is so truly grateful.”
She still has funds on the card and has enjoyed having this special treat in her life to provide a little help when she needs it. For her, a second vital aspect of the foundation’s assistance was learning that there was a community out there who understood her struggles.
“Through these other strong women and patients and clients that you’ve helped, I truly feel a sisterhood that I’ve never felt in my life,” Alejo said. “Through your foundation, you’ve made me feel seen and heard and loved.”
Andrew Casillon and his mother, Carmen, had a different challenge. Their mobile home’s water heater went out, and they had no reserves to pay the needed $1,500 to replace it. For two months, they searched for a solution, but there seemed to be no clear way to solve the problem.
Carmen, 77, requires dialysis due to kidney disease and also has other health issues, so Andrew works as her full-time caregiver. Unfortunately, all of the money that he earns is needed to pay their home’s lot rental, utilities, and other expenses.
“Whatever money comes in, it pays for bills and the rent; we didn’t have extra for the water heater,” Andrew said. The water heater outage “was quite a stressful time…. We spent a whole summer without hot water.”
Then, someone from the Kathi Koll Foundation called and “was adamant about getting this taken care of.” A gift card at Home Depot was arranged to buy the water heater and a repairman was hired to install it.
Afterwards, “within less than a week, he came and got the work done,” Andrew said. “The fact that we were finally able to get it taken care of was a huge relief.”
He also appreciated the kindness of the foundation’s director. “She was great. She was on top of keeping in contact with me, letting me know what information she needed and how she could provide assistance…. She really, really helped.”
Thank you for reading Holly and Andrew’s caregiver stories. We are so grateful to all who have helped us help them. Please share with a friend and be well! – KK
If you are interested in reading, here are more caregiver stories.
We are grateful to be celebrating our 10th year of helping caregivers in need and to be supported by the many generous and caring friends who have helped make a difference in so many lives.
Please consider donating to the Kathi Koll Foundation so you can help make a difference in struggling family caregivers’ lives. Thank you!
Hero Image: ID 200053214 | Caregivers © Noipornpan | Dreamstime.com
Caregiver photos used with permission