Hope for Elisabeth’s Family

When Elisabeth reached out to Claire’s Place Foundation, she had just come through a difficult stretch of treatment. She had been on IV antibiotics for two weeks, which meant she could not work, and the bills were quickly overtaking her family’s already limited income. Her husband is the only one able to work, and the cost of traveling back and forth to the hospital for ongoing care was making it harder to stay afloat. She shared that having their rent covered would help them stay stable and avoid falling behind during a time when her only job was to focus on her health.

Her social worker at the Emory Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center described her as a patient who is fully engaged in her care, committed to her treatment plan, and doing everything she can to maintain the best possible quality of life for her young family. She wrote that Elisabeth is consistent, compliant, and collaborative, something that stood out to her as a case worth funding because Elisabeth is working so hard to manage a disease that takes an enormous toll on both health and finances.

In her own words, the Extended Hospital Stay Grant from Claire’s Place Foundation “helped catch us up on bills” at a moment when the stress of choosing between health and housing felt overwhelming. Elisabeth shared that programs like this are incredibly important for people with cystic fibrosis because they offer support when it is truly needed and reduce the fear and burden of trying to take care of everyday life while also managing life-saving treatments.

Stories like hers are not rare. More than half of the families who come to us are living on reduced or single income while balancing frequent hospitalizations and ongoing care. Many, like Elisabeth, are returning applicants because CF care is lifelong and unpredictable. Every month, our Extended Hospital Stay Grant Program distributes support to families who are trying to stay housed, stable and emotionally grounded through medical emergencies that disrupt every part of their lives.

Thanks to our supporters, Elisabeth and her family received the breathing room they needed during her recovery. Behind each grant is a real family doing their best in circumstances they never asked for. And behind each family is this community showing them they are not alone.

If you would like to help more adults and parents like Elisabeth, becoming a monthly GEM is one of the most impactful ways to make sure families have support in the moments they need it most.