LIMA — Holidays that can often be so full of joy can sometimes be full of great hardship. One local family has experienced trying times over the year and hopes for a fresh start. Lily, like most moms, is hardworking. Raising four children on her own is just the start of the battle. In February, Lily got notice that no parent wants to hear. Her youngest son was no longer breathing.
He was just 5 months old and taking a nap during the day. Lily said she checked on him often because he loved to roll over in his sleep.
When a family member alerted Lily that her son was not breathing she immediately ran to his crib to begin CPR. She encouraged her other children to contact emergency services then they brought him to the hospital.
“He took his first breath and his last breath in my arms,” added Lily.
Her youngest son, Judah, was a sweet surprise. She forever will carry his memory and love in her heart.
Due to the painful loss, Lily has struggled with anxiety and depression. She often thinks of him and is unable to work as much as she used to.
Lily thanks God for her other children that help her to continue to press on. Lily has a 17-year-old daughter named Hannah, a 13-year-old son named David, an 8-year-old daughter named Abigail and a 2-year-old daughter named Andrea.
Lily hopes to continue to provide for her children as they grow. Due to this trying time, Lily and her children are in need. Lily is hoping to receive gifts for her children.
Hannah loves makeup. She is almost finished with high school and loves to be creative. She enjoys listening to music and is hoping for Bluetooth speakers or even scents from bath and body works. She wears a 5 youth in shoes and goes to Lima Senior High School. In clothes, she wears a medium and size four in juniors.
David loves basketball. He is hoping for a new basketball or cool red Nike gear to go with it. He also enjoys hoodies and video games. He wears a size large in men and 34 x 32 in pants. He is also in need of a twin-size bed frame.
Abigail loves Mini Brands. They are small toy models of nationally known name-brand items. She also loves Squishmallow toys and LOL dolls. She wears a size 10 in youth clothes.
Andrea loves all things princess. Her favorite character is Princess Sofia. She also is in need of clothes in size 2T. She is newly potty trained and in need of extra panties sizes 2T and 3T.
The children can also use twin-size comforters in the color red or sunflower themed. Overall the family is in need of financial support for past-due car payments and new brakes.
Lily hopes for comfortable shoes this Christmas, such as warm, flat boots in size 6. Ultimately, she is praying for a bigger home. She does receive aid from MET housing, but due to the traumatic memories of losing her son and small bedroom sizes, she is ready to move on.
If you want to help Lily and her family in any way this Christmas follow the prompt in the fact box.
Names in the story are changed for the family’s protection.
The Adopt a Stocking Fund benefits families during the holiday season. Monetary donations can be given online at give.salvationarmy.org/stocking or via Adopt A Stocking; c/o The Salvation Army; P.O. Box 234, Lima, OH 45801. All material donations for a specific family should be dropped off at the Salvation Army, 614 E. Market St., Lima, and should include a copy of the article or the date the story appeared in The Lima News. See past stories at LimaOhio.com/tag/stocking.
