On Halloween 2009, Leo turns 1 year old. We (Jess and Julie- writing) are huge fans of the little big lion whom we all adore. This community of love has been a source of great joy and support for Leo's family this past year. Now, with Leo approaching his first birthday, we are writing to all of you to invite you to help us celebrate!
First, leo's folks asked us to share their deep gratitude for your presence. Whether you have delivered a meal, visualized a feeding, lent a hand, run an errand or faithfully read each posting and sent your love, you have been an important part of The Community of Leo. Thank you for your contributions. This virtual world is very real for the family that it hugs every day.
Second, They showered in your love and know that many of you will want to shower Leo in gifts to celebrate his first birthday. In addition to living in a small apartment, they find that they and he don't need more baby clothes, toddler toys or keepsakes. They ask us all, respectfully, not to send gifts.
In lieu of gifts to toast this special birthday, we invite you to contribute toward items that Leo needs for his growth and development. To give Leo a life that is rich with activity, interaction and communication, he needs communication devices, supportive seating equipment and additional physical therapy visits beyond what is covered by insurance. Attached is a wish list of the types of things that His folks would love to have for Leo. Rather than purchase an item, we are collecting financial gifts for Them to put toward these and other items for Leo.
If you'd like to make a contribution, click on the paypal link to the left.
Julie and Jess will directly deposit checks sent to Julie to the True-Frosts’ account. We’ll share the names of the friends, and not the amounts, with the True-Frosts (unless requested otherwise by the gift-giver). If you would prefer for your name to be anonymous, we can do that, too. (NB: Please do not make checks payable to Leo True-Frost begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Under current law, if Leo has more than $2,000 in his name, he will automatically be removed from state-based supplemental medical insurance and have to reapply. To protect Leo‘s eligibility for this necessary medical insurance, his folks have hired a lawyer to establish a Leo True-Frost Trust Fund, but it is not yet up and running. In addition, Leo’s medical needs do not qualify him for non-profit status. An individual cannot be considered a charity, so donations to the True-Frost family are not tax-deductible.)
We invite you to contribute any amount -- as you know, in this community, it's not the size of any one contribution, but the sum of our collective love and support that moves mountains. If you are not in a position to send a gift, no worries; please know that your love and support are gift enough.
One of the amazing parts of The Community of Leo is that it has grown through the ripple effect to include friends of friends and even friends of those friends - some of whom are regular Carepage readers. Please, feel free to forward this letter to anyone with whom you have shared Leo's story. Though the year has been full of challenges and there are more to come, Leo's story is one of celebration and joy. Your love continues to be a huge part of that story.
Thank you all.
With appreciation and gratitude,
Jess Brooks and Julie Johnson McVeigh
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