Faces of H.O.P.E.

Austin's Story
(Submitted by Kim Brittain in 2001)

The joy of the birth of our third son, Austin, was shattered with the news that our precious child had Downs Syndrome and leukemia (AML-m.7). My husband and I left the hospital full of fears and tears.

Austin was going to need a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately our 4 year old son was a perfect match. But the treatment would have to wait until Austin was older. When Austin was 18 months old, he and I went to Johns Hopkins to begin the process of medical treatment. Babies don't understand the process of medical treatment. They only know they are in pain. The only relief was to rock Austin. Unfortunately the Children's House didn't have rocking chairs, so I sat on the bed and rocked him as best I could. Or I'd pace our little room. H.O.P.E. sent volunteers to rock Austin so I could rest. When they discovered there weren't any rocking chairs, H.O.P.E.'s volunteers got some, not just one but ten. Now all the patients at the Children's House could rock their children.

With his weakened immune system, Austin couldn't leave the Children's House for 120 days. I stayed with him while my husband took care of our boys at home. Being separated was very hard. My children would call me crying "when are you coming home?" H.O.P.E. volunteers stayed with Austin so I could get home. H.O.P.E. helped my family in so many ways; I don't know what I would have done without them. They brought back my smile, laughter and hope. I thank God everyday for people who help families in the fight to survive life during and after hard stressful times.

Austin, now a healthy fours years old, is a blessing of joy, laughter and love. H.O.P.E. will always have a place in my family's heart and we will never forget what they did for us.