CHRISTMAS FOR ALL: No baby blues here

It's hard to be a young new mommy.

It's even harder when the new bundle of joy arrives with heart conditions requiring surgery within moments of coming into the world.

But good news — "Jacquie's" baby boy, now 7 months old, is doing well following a series of life-saving procedures.

"He’s talking away, talking to his little elephant hanging off the swing set," she said Friday, a smile in her voice.

"It’s super nice to hear him vocalizing," she said. "When he had his surgeries they paralyzed one of his vocal cords so he didn't have much of a cry and couldn’t eat by mouth for four months. Now he’s having baby food and bottles."

Jacquie and her partner were barely making ends meet when they found out they were pregnant.

"We are constantly scraping by to have food, gas and to try to find a place to live," she told The Press earlier this year.

"It is extremely hard to have one income supporting two of us and all the bills that are coming along with being pregnant and having pregnancy complications," Jacquie said.

Baby's appointments and surgeries required time off work, exacerbating her little family's financial woes, checkered with past debt that was continuing to accrue. On top of that, the young family has struggled to find a permanent home.

"We have WIC, but it only covers so much food for a month for two people," Jacquie said. "While we hardly make enough to support three people, the low-income guidelines for Idaho have changed and have almost put us out of that category, which is crazy to even fathom. If we can hardly pay for food, gas to get to work and our basic bills to survive, how can we possibly not be considered low-income for housing?"

This is where Press Christmas for All stepped in with food and gas cards that lifted a bit of the burden for Jacquie and her partner.

"It definitely got us through several tough months," she said." Just having the gas cards helped out so much."

The program also helped with car repairs when her vehicle broke down a week before she gave birth.

"My car being worked on and all the help we got for that was a huge thing," Jacquie said. "It was nice to come back to my car all fixed and be able to have that.”

The repaired vehicle helped her and the baby safely travel to Spokane for many of his specialty appointments.

Jacquie said she is grateful Press Christmas for All provided so much when her family had so little.

“I think it’s a really great resource for people, especially in situations like we went through," she said.

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Each year, Press readers generously donate to Press Christmas for All. Every penny raised is distributed to Kootenai County residents. All overhead costs are covered by The Hagadone Corporation.

The gift recipients are our neighbors including families with young children, the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans, the homeless and those with mental illnesses. Many who seek assistance from Christmas for All are working but unable to make ends meet, especially with the dramatic increase in the cost of living in Kootenai County.

Beneficiaries of Press Christmas for All keep their dignity while the community provides a hand-up to help get them back on their feet. They are asked to pitch in a little bit toward their award to remind them of their capacity and resourcefulness. The “co-pay” is small and calculated on a sliding scale of income, but ensures these neighbors actively participate in their award. 

Press Christmas for All is managed by The Hagadone Corp., with assistance from CharityReimagined.Org. Christmas for All is a legally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Here are four ways to donate:

• Mail a check to Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

• Call The Press and make a secure credit card donation over the phone: 208-664-8176

• Visit cdapress.com. Click on Christmas for All and make a secure, online donation.

• Drop off your check at The Press weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.: 215 N. Second St. in downtown Coeur d'Alene.