American Angel Works and Rosebud Advocacy Steps Up to Help a Mom in Trouble

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National Nonprofit Steps in to Help When Help Cannot Be Found

A mother in dire need turns to a Craigs List ad for help and finds a community. American Angel Works steps up to help.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 11, 2011 – Very few parents have had to face the hardships Amanda Whitfield has.  And until a week and a half ago, Amanda was facing them alone. 

“I’ve never asked for help like this,” she said in her e-mail to American Angel Works, a nonprofit organization based out of Marietta, Georgia.  “I’m not sure what to say.” 

Amanda probably never would have turned for help had it not been for her son.   

“I try to always look at the cup half full, but life is hard for Micah.  I know I have a tough road in front of me.”   

Her son Micah just turned seventeen.  Since being diagnosed with Complex Congenital Heart Disease at one month old, Micah has undergone twelve heart surgeries.  For two years he could not breathe without the help of an oxygen machine; even now he requires constant medically competent supervision.  A stroke has left him unable to fully use one side of his body.   

Caring for Micah is a fulltime job, but one Amanda does not resent. 

“I have never once complained,” she says.  But it has become increasingly difficult to take care of Micah on her own. 

Every three weeks he receives eight hours of blood infusions from the hospital since his body does not produce its own antibodies.  Micah takes thirty-five medications daily, ten more in case of emergency.  Twelve of these medications are not covered by Amanda’s medical insurance.   

Micah’s father, who suffers from a severe mental illness, has threatened Micah’s life repeatedly over the last five years; Micah currently suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Amanda has had to move three times, and is no longer in contact with her former husband.  To make ends meet she has had to sell nearly everything they own.  A low point came a few weeks ago when she had to pawn one of Micah’s videogames (beside watching his beloved Phillies on television, playing his videogames is one of the few forms of entertainment Micah is able to enjoy).   

Amanda Whitfield knew she needed help.   

While scanning Craigslist for opportunities to make money from home, while still caring for Micah, Amanda found an ad that led her to American Angel Works.  American Angel Works is a nonprofit organization, sponsored by Rosebud Advocacy, Inc., that is dedicated to providing assistance for children and families in need. 

American Angel Works contacted fifteen churches in the Philadelphia area; of these two responded.   

A representative from Ensamples Church, Mission, and Ministries—sponsored by the New Life Community Church of Truth, Inc.—contacted American Angel Works and agreed to offer her support.  The representative recognized the importance of providing Amanda with what she needs to feel good about herself so that she can be strong for Micah.  And while they may not be able to provide Amanda with direct financial support, the representative from Ensamples Church has made arrangements with the merchants at 9th Street Market so that Amanda can maximize the potential of her government food benefits. 

Valerie McCrae, in charge of the ministry outreach at Fellowship Evangelistic Church where her father is the pastor, had already heard of the Whitfield’s situation—McCrae works at the children’s hospital where Micah receives his blood infusions.  Although Fellowship Evangelistic Church is a small church without liberal funding, McCrae has agreed to make a donation, out of her own pocket if necessary.  She will be meeting with Amanda within the next week to discuss the situation. 

Even more important than the financial support these two churches are providing—American Angel Works will attempt to match their contributions—is the caring community in which Amanda and Micah now find themselves.  They are no longer alone.   There are two congregations of friends, neighbors, babysitters, caregivers, confidants, who know their plight and are working together to help.   

Even the smallest things can make all the difference.  Recently, for the first time in 150,000 hours, Amanda found someone who could watch Micah for a couple of hours, while she took a break, and she did a thing most of us take for granted:  she went for a walk.   

For a while now Amanda Whitfield has been ‘getting by’.  She hasn’t been able to plan ahead, to save her finances; all she can do is make sure that there is food on the table, that the electricity bill is paid on time, that the van has enough gas to get her to the store and Micah to the hospital, that she has enough for basic internet so Micah can complete his online schoolwork, basic cable so he can watch his Phillies.  Ultimately her goal is to live without the anxiety of not knowing how she is going to do it all again tomorrow.   

She needs someone to watch Micah while she pursues the opportunities that have been passing her by (last week she had an opportunity to do paid research, but she could not afford to pay someone to watch him).  She needs a friend to stay with her at the hospital, while she waits for Micah’s infusions.  She needs someone who will pick her up when she gets discouraged, to laugh with her when things are good.  She needs a network.  She has that now. 

“With an extended network of caring people,” she says, “I could both be helped and helped others.”   

American Angel Works is a small organization, with limited financial reach.  Fellowship Evangelistic Church and Ensamples Church, Missions and Ministries are small inner-city churches and do not have nearly the resources of some of the other churches that were contacted.  But by pooling their resources together, each organization’s capacity for outreach is increased.  By contacting churches in an area and creating a dialogue between church leadership, American Angel Works hopes to establish meaningful networks and lasting relationships between churches; so that churches can help families like the Whitfields.