Sisterhood Supports Family in Time of Crisis

At the start of a new year, we often reflect on the blessing of family and friends. This year, consider also the priceless gift of Delta Gamma sisterhood. We are a family of women who embrace one another with encouragement, support and sisterly love. In times of trouble, we reach out to our sisters in need, empowering them with hope and a positive spirit to face any challenge. The Delta Gamma Foundation Anchor Grant program exemplifies this feeling of compassion by reaching out to sisters in crisis and helping them with financial assistance.

On April 22, 2015, Kristin Gray Anders, Gamma Alpha—Tennessee, and her husband, welcomed a beautiful little baby girl into the world named Lillian. Lillian joins three other siblings, ages 2, 3 and 5 years old. Within days after this precious baby was born, doctors told her parents that something was terribly wrong. Lillian, at 5 days old, was sent to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she was diagnosed with stage 4S neuroblastoma, a most aggressive type of cancer. Baby Lillian had her first chemo treatment at 2 weeks old and didn't respond well, leading to emergency radiation at 4 weeks old that left her kidneys damaged. The cancer continued to grow, and at 6 weeks old she was moved to a salvage chemo regimen.

Kristin has never left Lillian's side. She spent four months in the hospital with Lillian in Cincinnati, while six hours away, her husband, a high school teacher, stayed with the other three small children. By September of this past year, Lillian had been through seven rounds of chemotherapy along with a long and unimaginable list of other tests and procedures. Her amazing parents remain strong and courageous and the power of their faith has helped them navigate the many obstacles of having a baby with such a serious diagnosis.

The good news is that Lillian is now home with her family in Tennessee. Kristin and Lillian visit the St. Jude's clinic twice a week and travel to Cincinnati every few weeks for chemo treatments, scans and to be seen by Lillian's neuroblastoma specialist. Fortunately, the Anders family was able to get full-time child care for their other three small children at a preschool next to the high school where Kristin's husband teaches.

When Kristin turned to the Delta Gamma Foundation last month, the medical bills had already exceeded well over $1 million. Through the Anchor Grant program, the Delta Gamma Foundation was able to pay the deductible on the Anders' family health insurance. In addition, we were able to help the Anders with the high cost of child care.

When Kristin received the news that she would be receiving an Anchor Grant, she had been having a bad day. Lillian was due to go into the hospital that next week to have a bone marrow biopsy, a most invasive and painful procedure for such a little person. Through tears of joy after hearing that she was receiving a grant, Kristin felt the love of her sisters and the support of the Delta Gamma Foundation providing strength for the week ahead.

Over the holiday season, Kristin and her husband received the results of the bone marrow biopsy, and the scan showed a remarkable response to the therapy she has received. In fact, Lillian is progressing so nicely that the doctors have removed her central catheter line.

The Anchor Grant program would not be possible without the steadfast support of our loyal members and friends. Through annual donations, gifts of stock, IRA distributions, planned gifts, beneficiary designations and more, Delta Gammas have been there for sisters like Kristin in their times of trouble.

Provide Lasting Support
You can make a gift to help support Delta Gammas in need. To learn about the many ways to leave a future gift, contact Senior Director of Development Aleesa Ross at 614-481-8169 or plannedgiving@deltagamma.org to learn more.