Lauren easily communicates and socializes with classmates, friends and family, and is a soccer goalie and cheerleader in Upward church programs. Despite her health problems, she excels in the classroom, where she has a wheelchair desk, and is on the fourth-grade Honor Roll. Because we both have good jobs, we don't qualify for any other type of assistance," said Gray, who has worked as a DoD civilian for 23 years and whose wife works for a defense contractor.īecause of her condition, Lauren spends most of her time in a wheelchair, and undergoes weekly physical, occupational and speech therapy. "I've worked a lot of overtime to help pay for what Lauren needs. Gray said the cost of medical equipment goes up about 20 percent every year, and the pediatric equipment is more expensive than adult equipment. One thing you realize with a child with a disability is that everything is expensive." The insurance paid a lot, but there was a lot we had to pay, too. "In nine years, we have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for supplies and things we've needed for Lauren's care. The rest was paid for with donations," Gray said. But insurance paid $21,000 of the $37,000 we needed for Lauren's wheelchair. The Gray family is hoping others - including AMCOM employees - will make donations to a special "Lauren Gray" bank account they have set up at Redstone Federal Credit Union. "We've just been overwhelmed by the support we've received," Gray said. Recently, the Gray family has also made contact with an organization called Circle of Hope that assists in finding resources and other sources of support for families with disabled children. Members of their church - First Baptist in Meridianville - have taken up several love offerings for the Gray family, and continue to help with things like shopping, meals and yard work. In addition, Magical Moments Portrait Studio in Lacey's Spring is planning a two-day event where 20 percent of all revenues will go to the Gray family. The recent Tuba Christmas concert at the Huntsville Museum of Art raised just over $1,300 for Lauren's medical expenses, and nationally syndicated radio personality Sean Hannity, whose talk radio career began in Athens, has donated $5,000.īusinesses, such as Southern Mobility in Madison, and Beauty Mart and Park Supply in Huntsville have made contributions to Lauren's needs. Carmel Elementary - raised $3,000 toward the wheelchair. So far, with the help of the community, they have been able to purchase Lauren's new wheelchair, which has given her much greater mobility and even allows her to stand up for the pledge of allegiance at school. They also hope to receive help with the purchase of a $10,000 automatic track lift system for Lauren's use in her bedroom and bathroom, and a new $30,000 handicap accessible van with a hydraulic lift. They have asked for help to pay the mounting medical bills associated with the purchase of Lauren's new $37,000 wheelchair. Recently, the Gray family has reached out to the Huntsville community for assistance with their dwindling financial situation. My drive is to make sure Lauren's needs are met if something ever happens to me. "But I've gotten through the past three months on more than my faith. "I have a strong faith that God will bring us through this," Gray said. Their daughters, who are nearly 10 years old, are happy, intelligent and secure in their parents' love, despite having to cope daily with the problems associated with daughter Lauren's hereditary muscle and joint disease called Arthrogryposis. Since the birth of their twins in 1999, Gray and his wife have been consumed with the financial, emotional and physical costs of caring for one daughter's health condition while at the same time providing a strong family environment where both daughters have flourished. Those blessings mean a lot to a man who is struggling with incurable stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma.īut that's not the only health challenge faced by Gray and his family. He's thankful to God for his wife Lisa, his twin daughters Hannah and Lauren, his church and community, and his job with AMCOM's Integrated Material Management Center that now allows him to work from home. Rick Gray's faith has been tested to its very core.Īnd, yet, he counts his blessings every day. Lauren Gray, at home with her dad Rick, mom Lisa and twin sister Hannah, is living a happy, productive life in the face of serious health problems thanks to the united efforts of her family, friends, church members and the community.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |