Little Lydia is one of the many children Fragile Kids helps.

Fragile Kids Foundation Receives
Jackson EMC Foundation Grant

Nearly 50 percent of Georgia's medically fragile children are cared for by low-income single mothers and grandmothers. Many of these caregivers are unable to afford the medical equipment and services their children need. The Fragile Kids Foundation is doing something about it with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation.

The Fragile Kids Foundation was formed 19 years ago with a mission to provide critical medical supplies, rehabilitation equipment and specialized therapies not covered by private insurance, Medicaid or other government insurance programs for families with medically fragile children. Fragile Kids serves children from birth to 21 years of age.

Fragile Kids Executive Director Carolyn Polakowski shared several success stories from children served this year. One is three-year-old Jacob, who suffered severe brain damage after a near drowning. The once active toddler now requires a feeding tube, cannot speak or sit unattended and is minimally responsive. Jacob benefits from the Fragile Kids Loaned Equipment program, which allows multiple children to use costly items they may only need on a short-term basis to meet a therapy goal. Jacob has received a bath seat, feeding chair and a stroller to use until he outgrows them.

Polakowski says stories like Jacob's are one of many. "We're especially excited about Jacob's story because of what it meant to the family. Mom is so grateful; she's now one of our greatest advocates and a spokesperson for our organization. Jacob is awesome and making progress."