Meet KayCee, our December Kid of the month

Meet Kaycee!  She is a beautiful young lady that gives amazing hugs freely! She is a sweetheart and very easy to be around! KayCee can make her mom smile, and cheer her up like no one else.  KayCee is 10 years old and is in the 5^th grade.

KayCee came to live with her parents when she was 4 weeks old, they were able to adopt her 10 months later. Both of her birth parents have some challenges that have prevented them from raising her. She has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and severe ADHD. She has brought so much life and joy to her home! She loves to tease and has personality for days! She has an amazing smile. She is the best at making sure everyone around her knows she loves them, and she will tell you all the time. She loves to give hugs, and tease. She has her parents and grandparents wrapped around her little finger.” KayCee’s greatest accomplishment is starting to learn how to read and getting 100% on her spelling tests. She is a very loyal friend, and makes friends easily. When KayCee she plays school, she plays "mainstream" because that is her favorite part of the day!

Kaycee loves Curious George, U of U football, NASCAR, animals and dolls. She is full of life, and is very happy and always has a smile on her face.

Empty Stocking Fund Part II

A few questions have popped up and I am hoping to address the most common questions:

1) Who are the recipients of the Empty Stocking Fund?

Applications were made available to families here in Utah with at least one special needs child.  In the process of selecting the families we could confirm assistance to, we had several private sponsors come in.  Every family that applied for help will be receiving help.

2) When are gifts and/or donations due?

We would love to accept gifts until Christmas but it isn't practical.  We hope to have all donations in hand by December 5, 2014.

3) Can we donate funds so that you might ensure the correct things are purchased?

Absolutely!  Donations can be made at http://www.utahkidsfoundation.com/index.php/donation-uc  

4) Where can we send gift cards?

They can be mailed to Utah Kids Foundation, 550 North 120 West, Lindon, UT 84042.

5) Is there a suggested amount for gift cards?

We are happy to accept any gift cards.  We are hoping to provide each of the 3 families with gift cards to purchase the needed items for Christmas dinner.  If you choose to purchase one of these, we ask that those be approximately $50.

6) Where can I drop off items?

We have locations to drop items off at in Ogden, North Salt Lake, South Salt Lake, Foothill, Murray, West Jordan and Lindon.  Call Syndi at 801-770-3166 for specific addresses.  If you need to ship the items, please send them to Utah Kids Foundation, 550 North 120 West, Lindon, UT 84042.

7) What about the parents?

We are primarily focused on the children, however we will gladly accept items for the parents.  Two families have both parents in the home and the other is a single mom.  For ideas, please contact our office at 801-770-3166.

8)  How do we ensure we are not duplicate purchasing items?  

If you plan tograb something, please make a note on our list at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ju93-VI0nr--uxYqRyGmPpU7D-DgGtkB18GT0L7TGUQ/edit

Once an item is in hand, please change the status to Done.

If we have not answered your question, please email syndi@utahkidsfoundation.com or melissa@utahkidsfoundation.com

Our Empty Stocking Fund Wish List

This year, the Utah Kids Foundation has offered assistance to special needs families for Christmas.  We had applications for 26 children come in and every child will have a nice Christmas either by the foundation or private sponsors.  What an amazing feat for our first year!  We do have a wish list of items for the children that will be receiving Christmas from the community of families.  We are hoping to not only provide the gifts, but also gift cards for a nice holiday meal.  We have one family that is not on here yet so a few items will be added with 2 girls... sizes are coming.  We have divided the lists by clothing and all other items. 

Cash donations can be made at http://www.utahkidsfoundation.com/index.php/donation-uc.  

Drop off locations can be found in Washington Terrace, North Salt Lake, South Salt Lake (I15 convenient location), Murray, West Jordan, Lindon and St George.  If these locations do not work for you, please email Syndi at syndi@utahkidsfoundation.com and we can try to arrange pick ups.  

All items need to be in no later than December 5th.  We ask that items not be pre wrapped due to sensory issues or items that might seem age appropriate but are not the actual functioning level of a child.  We can make sure the items get to the family that can most use an item.  If you are interested in having a gift wrapping party on  Saturday, December 6th, I am arranging a location.  Again, any questions can be sent to syndi@utahkidsfoundation.com or my phone 801-362-9725.

Wish List:

Skylanders

MP3 player

Godzilla movie

16 GB Flash Drive

Anything Angry Birds

Lego's

Hot Wheels

Big Stuffed Dog

Anything from the movie Frozen (2 girls have requested)

Anything Dora

Anything Sensory with Lights and Sound

Baby doll Stroller

Elsa Doll

Video Games:  Wii, DS, PS3

Board Games

Books Wish List:

Diary of a Wimp Kid

Goosebumps

2nd or 3rd grade level Vampire or Sci Fi (2 children requested)

Manga (Fairy Tale, Lucky) 

Teen Sci Fi

1st grade Picture Books

2 year old picture books (2 children)

Kindergarten level picture books

Percy Jackson books (2 children)

Michael Vey books (2 children)

Boy Clothing Wish List:

Kids 10/12 shirts

Kids 15/16 shirts or Men's Small

Men's XL Shirts

Boy 6T Shirts

Boy 5T Shirts

Boy 3-6 month or 6 mo shirts

Boy XL or Men's M Shirts

Boy 10/12 slim pants or adjustable waist

Boy 14/16 slim pants or adjustable waist

Men's 36x30 pants

Boy 7/8 pants

Boy 5T Overalls

Boy 3-6 mo or 6 mo pants

Boy 14/16 pants (no zippers, buttons or snaps)

Men's size 8 snow boots

Men's size 9 snow boots

Boy size 12 church shoes

Boy ankle socks size 4 shoe (not toddler)

Boy Crew Socks size 7 shoe (not toddler)

Winter Gloves for a teen Boy

Boys 14/16 Boxers

Boy 3-6 mo or 6 mo warm pajamas

Men's XL winter coat

Girls Clothing Wish List:

Girl 5T Shirts

Girl 3T Shirts ( 2 children)

Girl 14/16 or Woman Small Shirts (longer length)

Girl XL or Woman Small shirts

Girl 5T Pants

Girl 3T Pants ( 2 children)

Girl 14/16 or Woman S pants

Girl 14/16 Petite pants

Girl XL or Woman Small Warm Pajamas

Other items:

Wrapping Paper

Gift Bags

Tissue Paper

Shirt boxes

Amazon Gift Cards

Walmart Gift Cards

Grocery Store Gift Cards

Gas Station Gift Cards

Target Gift Cards

Christmas Candy

Please share our page and #EmptyStockingFund

Meet Carter - our Kid of the Month

             On October 25, 2007 the Nelson’s welcomed twins Carter and Hunter Nelson to the family at 8:55 a.m., 11 weeks early. Carter weighed in at 2 pounds 13 ounces and Hunter weighed in at 2 pounds 15 ounces.  They were born early due to a phenomenon called twin-to-twin transfusion, where one twin gives the other twin all the blood and doesn’t get any back.  Carter was the donor in their case, while Hunter was the recipient. It was also determined that Carter suffered from Stage 3 and Stage 4 brain bleeds which could potentially cause Cerebral Palsy.  Only time would tell though what the damage would do to his body. 

Carter was born at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah and spent 5 days there before it was apparent that he would need more serious medical intervention.  On November 1, 2007 Carter was life flighted to Primary Children’s Medical Center where it was discovered he needed immediate life saving bowel surgery.  Over the course of the next 7 weeks Carter would stay at Primary’s to grow. During those 7 weeks while at Primary Children’s he would undergo many tests to make sure he was doing ok.  It was discovered that he had holes in his brain from the brain bleeds at birth for being so early which could possibly cause Cerebral Palsy.  Both boys came home from the NICU on December 24, 2007. It was the best Christmas present ever. 

Starting February 2008 through September 2008 Carter had several surgeries trying to give him the best little body he could have to live the fullest life.  One of the surgeries Carter underwent that year was Cranial surgery. He had a pointy forehead and it needed to be corrected.  When the doctor got inside they didn’t like the way the actual skull was formed so instead of just fixing his forehead they actually cut into the skull and flipped it 180 degrees and then put the plates in. As parents we often joke that the back of his head is now the front, you can still kind of feel where the point was. Up until August of 2014 he had not had to have any further surgeries. He recently just recovered from a hip reconstruction, femur reduction, adductor release surgery, and 6 weeks in a body cast.

He turned 7 on October 25, 2014.  Carter does have Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy but is a very happy and social boy. He loves to EAT all types of food, loves people, the school Bus, books, computers, his iPad, TV, music, School, church, playing with his brothers, and being tickled. Carter is the light of our family. His smile and hello’s melt our hearts every time we walk into a room where he is at.