The Children�s Place Helps Mary and Her Family Stay Together

Mary�s Situation

Mary and her children George, 3, and Rose, 4, who exist in a cramped, basement apartment on Chicago�s south side, suffered, rather than celebrated, Christmas this year. Abandoned by her husband, weighed down by poverty, and nearly crippled by a stroke, Mary, 33, also struggles with HIV/AIDS. So does George. Only Rose will survive her family. 

Isolated by disease, a crime-filled neighborhood, and the weight of caring for one ill son while raising a healthy, active girl, Mary risks the complete disintegration of her fragile family on any random day. A Christmas tree, holiday parties, and Santa Claus were this year far from her thoughts and her neighborhood. Very far. 

How The Children�s Place Helped

Fortunately, through the hard work, commitment and care from the The Children�s Place Association, Mary, George and Rose kept their family together this past holiday season. 

The Children�s Place enrolled George and Rose in its day care and early childhood education program. George, who has asthma and numerous HIV-related medical problems, received special medical attention, spoon and I-V feedings, and medication from Julie, our nurse. Rose, who has had behavior problems, largely from the at-home attention directed toward George, received counseling from our counselors.  

For Mary, who is paralyzed on her left side, her Children�s Place case worker, Sally, arranged health care, provided a walker and supplied an AmeriCorps volunteer to collect the family groceries from a specialized HIV/AIDS food pantry. This service relieved Mary from taking a bus to the pantry and the struggle with the parcels, the walker, the children and herself on the bus. Furthermore, a Children�s Place-arranged domestic aide now helps with household chores, relieving Mary, for example, the need to push a laundry cart six blocks�with kids in tow--to the laundry mat, each day. 

Mary, George, and Rose Today

Thanks to the help from The Children�s Place, the little family of Mary, George, and Rose is still together, today. With relief from grocery shopping and laundry, Mary can now devote her limited energies to preparing meals, tidying the apartment and caring for the kids at home. For George, with his nutrition and medical care, he is healthy and can play like any three-year-old boy. And Rose, with the counseling, now happily participates in The Children�s Place day care/early childhood program.