MIRANDA RECIPIENT STORIES

Family #1 has a child who received a cord blood transplant in Dec. 2005, in an attempt to treat the child’s Hurler Syndrome. The child and the family have relocated to NC from the northeast to obtain this treatment and neither parent is presently employed. A few months after the transplant, they had a second child, who fortunately is healthy. Unfortunately, due to continued post-transplant medical complications, the ill child and the family have needed to remain close to Duke University Medical Center. At this point, the father is diligently interviewing for employment and while he has several hopeful possibilities, nothing is definite at this time. In light of this situation, the family has exhausted all of their previous resources and is very concerned that they will not be able to pay their April rent and car payment, which together come to $1,300. Miranda Fund Grant: $1,300.

Family #2 has a 4 year old who was diagnosed a year ago with leukemia. The child’s treatment will be 2.5 years, so the child is not quite half way through the chemo yet. The child’s co-pays are $500 with each hospital visit. (They averaged a visit each month last year.) The mom is self-employed, and the dad has left the mother and child as he could not cope with the illness. The mother was trying to keep her business going, do the job of single parent, and care for her ill child. She was behind on the co-pays and unable to make ends meet. Miranda Fund Grant: $3,000 (to assist with the next 6 months of co-pays)

Family #3 is a mother with her young child currently receiving treatment at Duke Medical Hospital. Due to the child’s medical condition, they have temporarily moved out of their home state to come to Duke. The child spent several weeks inpatient and is now being followed on a regular outpatient basis - coming to Duke at least 3x per week for follow-up visits. The Mother had to give up her job in order to be here with her child and provide care. Unfortunately, in the course of all of this she has experienced issues with her car. She brought the car to the mechanic and was told that it would cost more money to fix the car than the car is actually worth. For that reason, she is in the process of locating another car. It is important for her to have car so that she may bring her child to clinic visits. While the mother has some money to put towards a car, she does not have complete funding to purchase another car. This mother is unable to work right now because she needs to be able to be with her child 24/7 to provide care. Miranda Fund Grant: $1,500

Family #4 is a family with a 12 year old child who was diagnosed with Leukemia five years earlier and had a bone marrow transplant in two years ago. While with her child at Duke for treatments, the mother has been unable to work and they have been through all of their family’s available resources. Unfortunately, due to complications, the child has had to remain close to Duke for longer than anticipated. As a result, the family continues to experience significant financial hardship. Miranda Fund Grant: $3,000

These stories are representative of dozens of various cases for which The Miranda Fund has been able to offer financial assistance.