I heard about Community Benefit Tree through a family member. We attended a informational seminar offered by CBT on how to host a benefit. This seminar showed me that there was some light at the end of the tunnel. Our family had been in a car accident which left our youngest son paralyzed from the mid-chest down. We needed help to cover the costs of remodeling to accommodate a wheelchair and adding a bedroom to the first floor of our home. CBT had all the information and abilities to help plan a benefit and the volunteers were extremely knowledgable and helpful in sometimes life altering situations.

Our son was diagnosed at age two with a rare braintumor. He undergone a surgery in 2005 to remove the tumor as well as in 2007 underwent a second surgery as more cells were found via a routine MRI. Five weeks later to the date, he had fluid on the brain resulting from the surgery and was again hospitalized. During this time my husband and I felt that we could do it on our own. We didn't ask for help as when we searched for state and local help we didn't meet the guidelines. We were a middle income family with both of us working so the household income didn't meet the 'needing guidelines'. It was fustrating as our son was placed on hormone replacement (daily medications) immediately following the first surgery and would be life long. He lost his pitutary gland so in order for him to function and live, he needs help with daily oral meds. Not to mention his growth has stopped as without a pitutary gland one will not grow. So being two and through the years he has stayed in a two year old body. In December 2008 through January 2009 he underwent Tomotheraphy Radiation (29 days) to again target more cells that showed on a routine MRI scan. For the time up through the second surgery we took finances from our 401K, savings and other investments to pay for the over $20,000.00 medical out of pocket expenses. Not to mention travel expenses. We were blessed to be able to fall back on what we had to retire on. Going up against the radiation we didn't know what, where or how we were moving forward as we had exhausted all our opportunties of monies. But knew we had to live and provide for our family of two children. During 2007 my husband also lost his job as it moved overseas. So we were extremely unstable of yet another financial crisis. Our families got together and teamed with Community Benefit Tree and had a benefit for our son in May of 2009. The monies raised were to help with medical and living expenses. It gave us HOPE that we had something to help us through the next level of our journey. As the support came from many different areas of the community, CBT also gave their support in guidance when I called and asked questions of concern as to handle various situations. Still to this date of June 2010 I can call them with questions and they guide me in a direction that supports me and my family. Our son continues to get treatment in Milwaukee and is doing good! We live one day at a time and make memories.