The grandparents and sole providers of two special needs children found themselves without a home after their house burned down earlier this year. Without home insurance, this Hampton family was unable to afford a new house that could accommodate their grandchildren’s special needs. On top of...
A rising 2nd grader in Virginia Beach passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving behind a grieving family. His mother was unable to pay for his funeral service as a single parent who was already experiencing financial difficulties. The River Ellis Foundation was able to assist in covering the...
When her car was totaled in a car accident, a mother found herself in the middle of a difficult situation. She relied on this vehicle to transport her 17 year old son with cerebral palsy to all of his medical appointments. Still making payments on her previous car, she was unable to afford a new...
At 22 weeks pregnant, a Newport News mother learned that her baby had Down Syndrome along with heart failure so severe that there was no way he would survive. The mother went on to carry him until 28 weeks and 4 days when she gave birth to her baby boy weighing 1lb 2oz. This little miracle...
A five-year-old boy ended up in the ICU after he was shot outside of his Portsmouth home. After being recently furloughed due to the COVID-19 crisis, his mother needed help purchasing a cell phone to communicate with family about the child’s condition as only one family member was allowed in...
When a Chesapeake mother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in her sleep, her six year old son went to live with his grandparents. With very limited income, the grandparents required immediate, short-term assistance to cover the costs of caring for their grandson. The River Ellis Foundation...
After celebrating their one year anniversary in 2013, a young husband experienced a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia. The primary caretaker since the injury occurred, his wife suffered a stroke in December 2019 that left her in the ICU. The husband suddenly required full-time care as his...
As a single mother of two young girls, I found myself down on my luck a few months ago. I had just escaped a domestic violence situation that I had been in for years. I had moved to another state and had absolutely nothing, not even a vehicle to get myself and my children around. Thanks to The...
After being diagnosed with a dangerous pregnancy complication, a Virginia Beach teacher experienced the unthinkable when she suddenly required surgery to terminate her pregnancy due to the threat against her own health. This teacher found herself in the middle of a difficult financial situation as...
A mother was forced to flee her home with her two young children due to ongoing domestic violence. Relocating to a new city, the mother and children moved in with her parents so she could save money for rent. Without a vehicle of her own, she required assistance getting herself to/from work each...
When her daughter began experiencing unexplained medical issues, a Virginia Beach single mother found herself in the midst of unexpected hardship. Over the course of a few weeks, her daughter lost her vision, lost use of her arms and legs, and began having seizures. In and out of the...