Help for the helper

As Kynesha rolls her young daughter’s wheelchair into the Respite Center, she looks forward to a few hours of rest.

Jarquerian, her precious 14-year-old child, functions on the level of an infant and requires care 24 hours a day. How do parents of medically fragile children do it? Their time is never their own; they are on call around-the-clock. Because of the serious medical issues their children face, they cannot entrust their care to just anyone. So, how can these exhausted parents ever get a desperately-needed break?

There is hope and help for parents like Kynesha. Nestled on a beautifully landscaped hillside in Union City is a place where families of medically fragile children can find respite from their rigorous routine.

Hope House Children’s Respite Center provides care for medically fragile children, ages birth to 21. At Hope House, Kynesha and other parents can trust trained professionals to provide the tender loving care that their children need while they take some time to recharge their batteries.

Upon entering Hope House, parents and children are greeted with a smile and welcomed into a very child-friendly facility where the staff puts a great deal of energy into making medically fragile children feel at home. There are many special features in Hope House, designed to enhance each child’s stay with opportunities for new experiences and his or her own favorite activities. In the Multi-Sensory Room, the children may be involved in musical activities, working with adaptive computer equipment, or creating artful masterpieces. The 500-gallon tropical fish tank and Australian Finch aviary add to the peaceful atmosphere. You may see a child squealing with delight in the hydrotherapy bathtub or swinging in the specially-designed wheelchair swing on the playground.

Perhaps one of the best features of Hope House is that the care is offered at no cost. Unbelievable? Kynesha thinks so. Hope House depends solely on loving gifts from individuals, churches, businesses, civic groups and foundations to operate. Funds are also raised through several special events throughout the year.

We often look at caregivers and admire and appreciate them. We feel compassion for the “special” people in our society. But we often forget that their helpers need help too. Hope House recognizes this great need and reaches out to the community to provide assistance.

If you would also like to help in the mission to provide hope for families of medically fragile children, there are many ways you can. Whether it is a financial gift or volunteering a few hours a week, every effort to help is appreciated by these special families. In Kynesha’s words, “Hope House has been a beautiful experience for us. The staff loves Jarquerian and we love them. We pray for them in their mission to take care of families with special children.”

Although Jarquerian’s life has been full of challenges and bumps, there have also been a lot of smiles, and Kynesha says she wouldn’t change a thing. She has learned to love in a different way and gained tremendous strength through her journey as a parent of a medically fragile child.

Hope House is a rest stop on her journey; a truly unique place where loving hearts and caring hands offer a safe haven for some very special children.

Come support our Hope House children at the 12th Annual Hustle for Hospice and Hope House 5K Run/Walk scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at Southwest Christian Hospice and Hope House, 7225 Lester Road, Union City. Call 770-969-8354 for more information.