Monday, October 29, 2007

Overwhelmed with the support from Brintons colleagues



Dear Brintons colleagues,

We are sitting here, opening a huge box of presents, developmental toys, clothes, gift tokens, funds and cards and are completely bowled over! We have, over the last few months, received some truly wonderful gifts from many Brintons colleagues in Kidderminster, Atlanta, LA and Vegas, clothes that Reuben is finally growing into and fantastic toys so this was a great surprise to both of us. We've felt like everybody has been celebrating Reu coming through 5 months in intensive care!
So, I just wanted to write an initial note of deep gratitude and acknowledgement here prior to thanking everyone personally and to say that with the money you have given us, as your letters have requested, we will be setting up a foundation for Reuben.

When my dear cousins, Laura and Michael Durkin collected a great deal of money during the Christening of their beloved son, Aidan, in lieu of gifts, we had the idea that we would set up a foundation for Reuben. Growing up in the UK, we took for granted the benefits of a free national health service and never envisaged having to rely so heavily on an inadequate medical insurance policy in the face of a rare genetic disorder.

I will write more about the development foundation once we've got the details in place and have chatted to Laura and Michael about it as founders, but the idea is that the money you have donated, along with that raised by Laura & Michael, and from my parents, will be used for Reuben's long term developmental needs, thereby having a lifelong impact. The specific areas for development which will be financed by the fund include hearing aids, physical therapy for gross motor skills, speech therapy, occupational therapy to teach Reuben to swallow, sign language, special needs education, medical costs and who knows, a college education! Jason will be sent out on 10k and Half Marathon runs whilst I think of other creative ways in which to generate sponsorship.

I think we truly have never known such kindness from family, friends, religious orders and strangers as we have since Reuben's birth and with the wonderful donations today from Jason's colleagues at Brintons, it is truly humbling and incredible.

3 comments:

Crystal M. said...

That is truely wonderful what a great feeling to know there are people who love and care for Reuben and your family.
Hugs,
Crystal and Eva

Unknown said...

very great they r there for a wonderful fam and wish i could meet u never no

Lori Pullen said...

I am happy to hear that you got the package from the Atlanta office. I was concerned with the wild fires that you might not get it. If you need more to put into Reuben's fund, just let me know. I only hope that someday we all can meet face to face and I can hold that little one in my arms just to say HI. Please do not hesitate to call if you need someone to talk to or just to vent. I am a very good listener.
Your friend from Brintons
Lori Pullen