We have begun our third year of operation and are thrilled to share some upcoming events!  In March, we'll be participating in our third Mom's Sale at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids, MI where we sell gently used kid's items with 100% of our sales benefitting UJE.  And, in June, we'll be hosting our first annual Until Journey's End Trail Run at Cannonsburg Ski Area in Belmont, MI. 

Along with upcoming events, we are also putting together a few committees--Fundraising, Communication and Family Care.  If you are interested in supporting UJE famililes by joining one of our committees, please contact us.  And, you can phone in, too, so distance is not an issue!  We'd love to have you join us.

We are also getting ready to send out our newsletter!  Feel free to sign up to receive it below!

My recent request for help to support a family by paying for their $115 per night housing expense for 2 months may have left some feeling a little uncomfortable. I am ok with that. I want you to question. I want you to ask why. And how. We desire to meet your needs for transparency so we can better meet the needs of the families UJE supports.

So, let’s talk money.

I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me, but I have a general memory of the expenses our family incurred during our medical crisis away from home.

Our son, Isaac, was hospitalized from July 15-December 4 of 2007—almost 5 months. My husband stayed home to take care of our home and pets and continued working while my 2-year-old daughter and I traveled about 400 miles to be with our son who was in the NICU. Jason would travel to visit us when time and money were available, usually 2-3 weekends per month. Friends back home managed our lawn care, provided a few meals for Jason, helped with pet care, and completed a home improvement project during our medical journey. My first month away from home, I lived in a hotel. They graciously agreed to lower our daily rate to $80/night. The lodging total for that month was approximately $2400 (this total does not include taxes, etc. I recall our hotel bill was over $3000). Food for the first month was generally not free. The hotel did reduce their meal prices and provide me with free coffee, but for the most part, we payed for every meal, everyday. We also had to pay for parking while at the hotel but I don’t remember how much that was.

The next month, a couple whom we had never met before invited us to live with them in their home, only minutes from the hospital. The second month’s lodging was free. Meals for the second month were generally free. At their home I had a place to store and prepare food and we often shared meals with the family we were living with.

The beginning of the third month, Isaac was transferred to another hospital. We moved again, this time to a Ronald McDonald House (RMH). We lived there until Isaac was discharged—about 3 months. The lodging total for the last three months was approximately $2250. The hospital provided a shuttle to and from the RMH so I usually used that, instead of paying for parking at the hospital. The RMH provided supper most nights—all of those were free. And, we had a kitchen again so we were able to prepare some of our meals. I prepared breakfast for my daughter and I every morning before heading to the hospital but lunch was usually at the hospital cafeteria.

Meals, gasoline, health and beauty items, groceries and parking totaled approximately $3350. This number is based on my recollection that we spent about $8000 total during our 5 months away from home. Of course, this total was in addition to our normal living expenses back home. And, while it was not an easy decision to be apart from each other, Jason staying home and working allowed us to pay all of our normal living expenses. Unfortunately, like most families, we did not expect this long distance medical crisis and all of our away-from-home expenses were charged to our credit card.

In terms of medical expenses, we were very fortunate. Our son’s medical bills were well over 1 million dollars. Because of Medicaid and my husband’s medical insurance, we did not pay a single penny.

I share our financial journey with you to give you an idea of the varied expenses a family we support might incur. Of course, every family’s long distance medical journey is unique. Each family we serve receives support tailored to their particular needs. Housing and transportation especially, vary greatly from family to family, city to city. And people have jobs that pay various salaries and offer different insurance. Some people have no job at all. Some people are 3 hours from home and can drive to visit their spouse and hospitalized loved one. Some people are 12 hours from home and must fly back and forth. Or not visit much at all. Some families have to live away from home in Ohio; other families have to live away from home in Washington DC where expenses are much higher. Some families have reliable transportation, others do not. And the list goes on.

Until Journey’s End supports families living away from home to be with a loved one in medical crisis until their journey ends by meeting each family’s unique needs. Because of our Board of Director’s collective experience and understanding of a long distance medical crisis, we can gauge a prospective family’s need. When possible, we talk directly with family members and close friends of our families to determine exact needs. We read blog updates and ask questions. We take seriously the trust bestowed on us by our supporters and donors. At the same time, when God places a family and their unique circumstances on our doorstep, we have to act. And, we have to enlist your help. Because alone, these journeys are sometimes nearly impossible to recover from. With your help, UJE can meet the needs of the families God has set before us. And honestly, I can’t think of anything more rewarding.

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." 

How many times do we wake up to find gray clouds showering rain on our window?

Waking up to clouds in the sky and rainy drizzle hitting the window is never a good sign in the morning. It's hard for me to find joy in less than perfect weather.  It's always extra difficult for me to get out of bed and be excited to tackle the day ahead. On this particular day though, I had no choice. Our family was down to one car and my husband needed a ride to work.  My one and three year old needed to be bathed and clothed to join us on the venture to drop Dad off at work. I have to admit, we bathed quickly, ate breakfast at an abnormally fast pace, and managed to be out the door in record time.  Soon after our departure from dropping him off, we headed to run a few errands.  The rain began to come down and visibility was slim.  Going home to relax sounded nice but I had been reminded minutes before that I needed to drop a care package off for a family visiting their daughter who is hospitalized in the NICU.  This family has been in and out of Grand Rapids visiting their daughter for six months.  Their home is hours away and they have to choose carefully their visits to Grand Rapids due to work, family and financial constraints.  Time stood still as I thought of this family.  Questions began racing in and out of my head.  Why would I have complained about the weather outside earlier?  Why did I think it was "work" to get my children ready for the day?  Why was driving my husband to work a task?  I then tried to put myself in the shoes of the family about to receive this care package.  My thoughts began to change.  I was thankful for things I was not usually aware of.

I arrived at the hospital with no time to spare.  There she stood, beautiful in blue with a necklace draped over her shirt.  I had no clue what was going on inside the hospital or how her baby was doing.  I did know her daughter had been fighting for her life just stories above us.

This woman is incredible. 

She took a moment to come down and receive a care package from Until Journey's End.  I handed her the items and she took them.  I was unsure of her exact feelings, but I was certain of mine. 

I felt joy.

Joy sums it up.  Have you done something good this week?  How did you feel?  I did something good with something that others and I provided.  I only wish I could have bottled up that feeling.  I wish each person who supports UJE could have felt this feeling of joy.  I no longer cared about the weather outside.  My largest fears were far away.  I had done something good and changed someone's day.

Happiness and true joy are something we all search for.  I have learned to find both by practicing compassion as often as I can.

 --Contributed by Julia Brooks, Until Journey's End Board Member--

Hitting the road for several weeks with the kiddos is no small task, as many of you know!  After a few weeks of "playing house" in a hotel room, I was ready for a break.  And then yesterday, just as I thought I was going to lose my mind, a new friend invited me to her Bible study that offered free child care.  This was a no brainer! 

At the end of the study, we broke into two groups to pray.  As the third woman in our group began to share her prayer request, I felt a surge of understanding.  Their family had just begun the adoption process and were facing some potential setbacks and frustrations.  Their family is not completely supportive of their decision to adopt and they don't have a network of other adoptive families to support them.  As a mom to two children who were adopted, I knew I could offer this mom the kind of encouragement and support she was praying for.  I look forward to hearing more about their journey to adoption in the next few days.

Since arriving in Virginia almost a month ago, UJE has supported three new families and mailed four care packages.  I had no idea I would be running around Charlottesville in an effort to meet the needs of families living away from home in medical crisis from Washington DC to Texas.

There is a mom-to-be who works at the hotel where we are staying.  I learned that the staff, here, are having a baby shower for her so I started asking my husbands' classmates to donate money so we can buy her a Target giftcard.  We've already received $60.  It's exciting to think about her purchasing items she will need for her new baby girl.

If only we would step out of our comfort zone, engage others in conversation...oftentimes complete strangers become friends.  And we soon realize there is an opportunity to support and serve wherever we go.

It has been a busy time for UJE! 

Even though several of our board members have been scattered acorss the country, we have been discussing fundraising ideas, new and exciting ways to support our families and much more.  Every time we meet, whether in person or via phone conference, the excitement for UJE continues to grow!

In January, we mailed out several hundred letters to family and friends sharing our mission and vision.  We have heard from many people and appreciate the encourgement and donations we have received.  Every kind word strengthens our resolve and every dollar brings us closer to our vision.

In March, Honey Don't Cough sponsored a table for UJE at a gigantic sale where UJE raised $400 by selling used kids clothes and toys.  What a success!

In the last several weeks and days, UJE has started to receive many more family submissions.  We are thrilled that more people are learning about what we do.  The more people who know about our support and services, the more families we can serve.  And that is why we are here!

In the coming months, we have several potential fundraisers, our first press release and the opportunity to partner with more organizations.  The first quarter has come and gone with excitement and growing enthusiasm.  April, May and June...we have even higher expectations!

Thank you for your continued support.  You are making a difference in the lives of many.