Sofia: A Small Change But A Profound Impact For A Little Girl
Sofia, 8, was born developmentally delayed with hypotonic cerebral palsy, a severe medical condition that decreases muscle tone and weakens joints. Although she requires assistance with all activities of daily living, she continues to make successful strides in therapy.
Excessive medical costs for Sofia’s treatment have placed her parents, Joseph and Marianne, into deep financial debt. Sofia’s monthly expenditures for medical supplies, medications and insurance are increasingly expensive and add to their costly medications, utilities, rent and groceries.
Sofia’s family lives on an extremely limited income as evidenced by their increasing monthly expenses, which match and sometimes exceed, their monthly income. With Joseph as the sole provider, Sofia’s family lives on a cautious and limited budget each month. Marianne provides 24-hour care for Sofia and her responsibilities as a caregiver prevent her from maintaining employment. The amount of time spent towards Sofia’s care prevents Marianne from maintaining employment.
Because of their limited income and increasing medical expenses, Sofia's parents contacted Partners in Care Foundation’s Family Care Network program with hope that they could apply for a grant for critical exercise equipment.
Their request was last resort since multiple avenues had been explored and the family’s savings were depleted. A grant was requested to provide Sofia with a universal exercise unit to advance her physical therapy.
At the time, Sofia’s rehabilitation was long term, however with continuous therapy and treatment Sofia would be able to ambulate independently and complete activities of daily living with minimal assistance.
Through a generous gift from Family Care Network’s primary donor, Change a Life Foundation, a universal exercise unit was purchased. Sofia can now remain at home and continue her aggressive treatment plan.
Change a Life Foundation stepped in where there were no other resources. With continuous use of this equipment, it is anticipated that she will avoid premature placement in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. She can now remain safely at home with her loving family.
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About Family Care Network and Change a Life Foundation: Partners in Care Foundation launched Family Care Network in 1997 as a safety-net program for low income, underserved individuals and families who are facing a disability, chronic illness or catastrophic life event. Our funding partners include Change a Life Foundation, Rose Hills Foundation and other public and private funding sources.
