My name is Emily Gold and I want to nominate Katie Lindenfelser and the organization she founded: Crescent Cove, for a Christmas wish. Crescent Cove is a residential pediatric Hospice and Respite Home in the Twin cities: the third in the nation and the first in the Midwest. Crescent Cove will be opening its doors in January to offer support to children and their families at end of life and to offer respite for exhausted parents and caregivers of medically complex children. Unfortunately, I know this exhaustion all too well. I am a mother of four and my six-year-old, Lizzie, was born with a life limiting condition. At birth, she was given two months to live. Caring for a her is exhausting: mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.
When they open their doors in January, there will be a place designed specifically for children like my daughter. When end of life comes for Lizzie, crescent Cove will be there to support her siblings in their grief, something that would be incredibly difficult for me to do alone, in the midst of my own grief. I will be able to be her mother, not her nurse or caregiver. I won’t have to manage meds or monitor breathing. I will be able to be fully with her when her journey is over. Crescent Cove will bridge the gap between hospital and home by offering medical support in a home-like environment. And until that time comes, there will be a facility with a staff that can care for Lizzie for a night so we can sleep, or watch our son play baseball. We can take her siblings to do something that it not safe, not accessible or not appropriate for Lizzie. Pediatric hospice is an unfortunate reality, but it is my reality and there are hundreds of families like mine in Minnesota who need the support that Crescent Cove gives. Granting this wish will help many, many families make the most of the time they have with their children.
Katie has worked tirelessly to make this level of support a reality. In the years that I have been involved with and supported by Katie and Crescent Cove, I have seen my friends lose their children. I have held mothers at their children’s funerals and sobbed with them. I have cried and raged at the unfairness of it all. I have also seen the difference that Crescent cove makes. I have been comforted by meals and have seen my daughter giggle with her music therapist. I have seen the difference in her pain level after a massage. I have met people who truly understand what my life is like, people who see my daughter for the amazing human she is and people who will hold me and sob with me when it’s my turn. Katie is one of those people.
Crescent Cove is committed to offering these services at no cost to families. This requires an incredible amount of generosity from many people. Anything you could contribute to this amazing charity would be money very well spent. Their major fundraiser, the Home Plate Gala, is happening on January 27th. If you are interested in attending or donating or simply learning more about the mission of Crescent Cove, you can visit crescentcove.org. Thank you so much for giving me a platform to recognize the unbelievable work of Katie and this organization.
It was our pleasure to grant a Christmas Wish for Katie and Crescent Cove!
Treasure Island heard about Crescent Cove and wanted to surprise then with a TI BONUS of $2,000 thank you! $500 Coborns Delivers gift card and $101 Super America gift card!
We couldn't do KDWB's Christmas Wish without your donations. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Special thanks to Venture Bank. Plus, part of the donations will automatically go to YouthLink to help homeless youth in the Twin Cities.
LISTEN: Dave Ryan calls to surprise Crescent Cove with a KDWB Christmas Wish