What a year 2020 has turned out to be! It has been challenging and difficult and COVID-19 has added a whole new set of worries, changes and concerns that have plagued all of us, making daily life more complicated.

Now, imagine having a critically ill child who truly needs constant care and attention round the clock and how exhausting and draining that must be on a good day and well, now, it’s even more complex.

Casey Cares Foundation, has and continues to provide these families with uplifting activities to help them cope with the day-to-day stresses of being a caregiver. The Geiger family, who live in Washington, DC and care for their beautiful daughter Heidi who has been severely paralyzed since birth, have been a Casey Cares Foundation family for years. They have participated in various Casey Cares activities such as taking a family vacation, visiting the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, attending a Washington Nationals game, and even enjoying a movie and special pajama night at home. All of these things have helped to provide them with some solace, positive family togetherness and ways in which to forget about their world.  Heidi turned 7 last week and Casey Cares was there to help celebrate with a special delivery for Heidi.  

We celebrated Heidi's birthday because every child's birthday is an important milestone, but especially critically ill children.  Casey Cares will celebrate more than 1,000 birthdays this year.  We will always find a way to make our kids feel special. In the height of the pandemic and lockdowns in March, volunteers and staff packed birthday gifts and shipped them out from their houses.  We are grateful that most of the work now happens in our office in a socially distanced and safe way! 

Regardless of where we are sending them from, every Casey Cares child will receive a gift this year.  We are so grateful to our donors and volunteers for helping us make this happen for our families.