Christmas Giving 2014

2014 ADOPTED FAMILIES - UPDATED  APRIL 2016

*Please note that ages are at time of adoption.

 This was the Bates family’s 18th year of adopting families with our family and friends and our 10th year adopting families through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP).  We adopted two families this year, down from our previous three.  We have struggled over the past several years to raise enough funds for three “complete” adoptions.  

FAMILY #1 

Mom, Jennifer (age 29) and Dad, Tony (age 41) have a family of five.  Struck by more heartache and challenges than any family should have to cope with, Jennifer and Tony have a child, Anthony (age 2) who has been fighting a rare and life-threatening seizure disorder called Infantile Spasms since shortly after birth.  After stopping the dangerous disease for a time through a round of aggressive medical intervention and immune suppressing medication, the seizures have returned.  Additionally, Anthony’s brother Royce (age 8) was diagnosed a life-threatening disease, Leukemia.  Sister Neveah (age 10) is healthy and a HUGE help with her sick siblings.

Since the 2014 holiday adoption, the family is doing much better. Anthony is enrolled full time at Glen Peters School and his parents are pleased with the program and his progress. Royce has been treated for his Leukemia and is currently in remission. He is thrilled that his hair is grown back and is back in school full-time. Dad is employed full-time and Mom is working part-time at CVS to help make ends meet.

FAMILY #2

Single Mom, Angela (age 30) has five children.  Struggling to improve the lives of her children, Angela left a life-threatening domestic violence situation to ensure the safety and well-being of her children.  Her youngest, Harper (age 1), was diagnosed recently with Cerebral Palsy as well as several other medical conditions and significant developmental delays including being unable to walk.  Harper has recently (as of May 2016) transitioned to full-time school and was diagnosed with a degenerative disease.

Harper’s big brother Lathum (age 7) is impaired socially and emotionally and big sister, Abbygale (age 8), has Aspergers and ADHD.  Oldest brother, Brandon (age 14) and youngest sister, Lillyann (age 3), are both average children, but crave attention due to the demands on Mom’s time from the other siblings with special needs.

After years of working in construction and making a good wage, Mom struggles with being unable to provide financially for her children as their needs require her to be at home with them around the clock.  Her family pitches in to help as they are able, but Angela’s budget is stretched very thin and her children’s needs are great.