Cole's Closet: One Family's Story

The Ruff family loves Cole's Closet. Their older daughter, Lexie, miraculously survived life-threatening birth complications, but was left with kidney problems requiring dialysis and round-the-clock care.

When Lexie's mom, Kim, was ordered to hospitalized bed rest for her second pregnancy, the family was in financial and emotional turmoil. A friend recommended Cole's closet.

Kim says, "I initially turned to Cole's Closet to see if the organization could recommend someone to volunteer to help my husband care for Lexie while I was in the hospital. What I received was so much more."

Cole's Closet provided emotional support and m, as well as the gift of precious time.

"First and foremost, Cole's Closet offered emotional support. Cole's mother, Ellen, spent a number of hours on the phone talking me through my fears and anxieties. In addition to emotional support, Cole's Closet offered financial support by providing literally case loads of easy-to-prepare meals from Omaha Steaks. As a result of this assistance, my husband was able to spend less time at the grocery store and cooking meals. It also saved us money that we would have otherwise spent on groceries.

In addition to providing my family with food, Cole's Closet provided a beautiful handmade blanket and two very large boxes of toys and books for Lexie. I was hospitalized over the holidays. We had exhausted our savings account and "maxed" out nearly all of our credit cards trying to make ends meet by the time Christmas rolled around. We had decided to postpone Christmas, when Cole's Closet gave Lexie the Christmas we could not afford.

It is hard to describe the many ways that Cole's Closet made a difference in our lives. Cole's Closet put food on our table when we needed it most. Cole's Closet gave us Christmas. Cole's Closet gave a worn out father more time to care for his sick child. And, Cole's Closet helped give a distraught mother enough peace and courage to stay in the hospital for her unborn child. Cole’s Closet helped us bring a healthy baby home from the hospital."

Today Lexie and her little sister, Madison, are rambunctious preschoolers. The Ruffs will never forget the support they received from Cole's Closet.

Bloggers for Good is proud to support Cole's Closet. Please join us October 21 at Finnegan's Restaurant in Ashburn. Tell them Bloggers for Good sent you and Finnegan's will generously donate 30% of your tab to Cole's Closet. New, un-opened, un-wrapped toys will be collected.

Photo: Madison today
Photo credit: Carl Hutzler Photography