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For the last year and a half of Spencer's life, over 8 months were spent
in the hospital. Through the generosity of friends, relatives and strangers,
Spencer's parents received snacks, books, cards, and meals to help during a
very stressful situation. During Fall 2001 at Glennon, the Kults became
friends with other families that were coping with extended hospital stays:
one teenager waited over 3 months for a heart transplant and another family
was dealing with an extended pleural effusion. If Chris and Tina were
exposed to several families at one small Midwest hospital, just imagine the
hundreds of other families around the country experiencing extended or far
from home hospital stays, and the financial difficulties they have to face. |
With Spencer's passing, The Kults and C.H.I.N. wanted to honor his memory in
some way that would help other families who might be faced with financial
difficulties. In an effort to reach out to these families, C.H.I.N. is now
pleased to offer Spencer's Fund, a financial assistance program that will help
families with expenses incurred during extended or far from home clinic
appointments and hospital stays. Spencer's Fund will provide groceries, meals,
travel subsidies, lodging assistance, and utility payments to families in need.
Services
The Spencer Kult Memorial Family Assistance Fund (Spencer's Fund) is
available to families and individuals affected by Congenital Heart Defects.
Who is eligible to make a request?
Spencer's Fund will honor requests directly from families in need, and from
Cardiac Social workers at Pediatric Cardiology and Adult Congenital Heart
centers throughout the United States.
How to submit a request?
Please contact us by email
or phone (609-822-1572), and specify what type of assistance you
are looking for (gas cards, groceries, help with utility payments, travel
expenses, etc). In order to process your request, we require verification
of the patient's diagnosis, expected length of stay, planned precedure(s) and/or
surgery, and documentation of need from a health
professional or social worker.
Donations
The Spencer Kult Memorial Family Assistance Fund was started in August 2002
after the death of Spencer Kult. He was a courageous little boy who touched
those around him with his smile and determined attitude. Spencer did his best to
not let a long hospital stay pin him down. You can read more
about Spencer here.
Please help us continue our mission of assisting families who are affected by
far from home or extended hospital stays by donating to Spencer's Fund.The need
has never been greater, and your support is critical to our ongoing efforts to
help families in crisis.
Tax-deductible contributions may be made by credit card or check using our
secure donation form.
Memorials and tributes are also welcomed -- if you so request, we will send
an acknowledgement card to the honoree or designated family member.
Testimonials
Spencer's Fund helped with travel expenses for our daughter's 7th Cardiac
Catheterization. Prior to their assistance, we were unsure how we were going to
afford yet another trip to
Boston. In addition to worrying
about Cassidy's health, we constantly worried that our financial difficulties
would prevent us from getting the best care for her. Spencer's Fund helped take
away some of that worry and helped to make our last trip to
Boston possible. We are forever
grateful.
Traci & Vito Lisa
Spencer's Fund is awesome! They stepped
in and assisted our families during tough financial times due to lengthy
hospital stays--our families are forever grateful!!
Melanie E. Fryou, MSW Nemours Children's
Clinic Pensacola, Florida
My pediatrician's office serves those who have limited or no
medical resources. They do not have access to a computer, nor do they know how
to navigate the internet. I completed some internet research on behalf of a very
sick patient with less than a month to live. Finding Spencer's Fund enabled me
to provide them a resource when they were not able to find any assistance. The
financial assistance provided by Spencer 's Fund was instrumental in allowing
the parents of one of our patients to be at his bedside before and after his
surgery. Without the assistance they would not have been able to be with him. It
provided them hope when there wasn't any. Thank-you so much!
Rose Dormio, RN BSN
Stephano has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with Pulmonary Hypertension and a
GI feeding tube.
He spent almost the first 10 months of his life between
Miami,
Orlando, Pensacola
and Panama city hospitals.
As you can imagine, traveling from one hospital to another put a huge strain on
our budget. A social worker from the
Pensacola
hospital told us about Spencer's Fund, and I contacted you to ask for help.
Spencer's Fund paid our electricity bill
when our service was about to be disconnected. Stephano was coming home that
week with medical equipment in need of power. Knowing that there was help for us
was so important! Thank-you for being there when no one else was.
Zoila
E. Sanchez
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