Mother with terminal diagnosis still wants to adopt a family for Coins for Kids

November 27, 2018 Utah Channel 3

FEATURE — Every year, besides raising money to buy gifts for children in need, KONY’s Coins for Kids also asks members of the community to personally “adopt” a family and buy gifts for the children.

When I received the following email to Carl Lamar, president of Coins for Kids, from a mother who had been recently given a terminal diagnosis, I recognized immediately the true meaning of “holiday spirit” (and just between you and me, I got a little choked up as I imagined my own young children facing the possibility of losing their mother).

Despite her diagnosis – an event that often causes families to proverbially circle the wagons, both emotionally and financially – this mother wrote that her family still wanted to participate in Coins for Kids, something they had done for the past 15 years, including adopting families the past two years.

This was an example of generosity of spirit that I wanted to share with St. George News readers, so I contacted the author of the email. She responded back and gave me permission to run the email on one condition: anonymity.

It’s not our policy at St. George News to run anonymous content, but I was planning on doing it in this case anyway. After all, she didn’t send this as a letter to the editor. She wasn’t looking for public praise or a pat on the back. It was simply an email to Coins for Kids that happened to make its way to me. And the fact that she asked for anonymity makes it even more powerful. So of course I would do that.

Please read her email below. I would like to personally wish the best to this mother and her family. As she says in her email, “I still hope and pray to beat those odds.” I hope the same thing, and I thank you for your kindness.

Paul Dail
Editor in chief

As a family, this year has reminded us that memories have much more value than things. It has been a difficult year for our family. I (mom 39 years old) received a medical diagnosis this year that makes it unlikely that I will be around for more than a couple more Christmases, if that (although I still hope and pray to beat those odds) and the medical expenses are excessive and piling up.

We have explained the changes in our financial situation this year to our children, that they would not be getting the large or expensive Christmas gifts this year. I worried that they would be disappointed that they wouldn’t receive gifts similar to the gifts that their friends in our neighborhood will surely receive.

We anxiously asked our teenage children what they would like for Christmas (that would fit our budget), and all three requested to make memories as a family by again adopting a Coins for Kids family for Christmas, rather than receiving gifts themselves.

I have the most amazing kids. Thank you for providing this opportunity to make family memories by giving to others. We have shopped with Coins for Kids since my youngest (now they’re 16 years old) twin sons were babies – every year for the last 15 years. Then, as finances allowed, we have adopted a family each of the last two years.

We are so excited to adopt a family with young children. Since my children are donating their own Christmas to get gifts for our adopted family, it would be so appreciated if you would match gender so each of my children can shop and wrap for their “adopted” mini-me. If at all possible, we’d like to request that the family we adopt has small children (old enough to be excited about Christmas AND still believe in Santa), one girl and two boys.

We love your organization and cherish all of the family memories made while serving together. Thank you for providing us with those opportunities. I remember participating in something similar with my family growing up, and it’s wonderful to have been able to carry on that tradition and legacy of giving with my own family.

Email: pdail@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews