“When Community Becomes Family: A Testimonial of Gratitude”

By Carolyn Novak

When I first saw the Deliver the Dream brochure in my daughter’s infusion room, I had no idea how profoundly this organization would impact our family’s life. With a daughter requiring monthly infusions due to primary immune deficiency and a heart transplant, our family was already navigating challenging waters. On a whim, I applied for one of their retreats, not expecting much.

That decision changed everything for us.

Our first retreat with Deliver the Dream provided something we desperately needed but didn’t realize was missing – genuine family bonding with others who truly understood our struggles. In the company of families facing similar challenges, we found a rare sense of belonging and acceptance. For the first time in a long while, we weren’t the “different” family; we were just a family.

Then COVID hit, and our world shrank dramatically. With my daughter’s compromised immune system, we faced isolation in a way few others could understand. We were truly homebound, cut off from the outside world during an already frightening time.

That’s when Deliver the Dream became our lifeline.

Their Hope at home program appeared at precisely the moment we needed it most. These virtual gatherings did more than just connect us with other families during lockdown; they provided crucial structure and social interaction during our isolation. Unexpectedly, the program helped our autistic daughter develop online social skills that would prove essential for her transition to virtual learning.

For six years now, Deliver the Dream has been the backbone of our family. They’ve supported us through medical challenges, pandemic isolation, and the everyday struggles of raising a child with complex needs. The organization has given us community when we felt alone, hope when we felt despair, and joy when we needed it most.

I often wonder what our family’s journey would have looked like without Deliver the Dream. Their mission to help families build bonds and form relationships with others experiencing similar challenges isn’t just a statement; it’s a lifeline they’ve extended to thousands of families like mine.

Deliver the Dream doesn’t just provide retreats; they deliver exactly what their name promises — the dream of a supported, connected, and resilient family life, even in the face of serious illness and challenges.