Erica Liepmann

A Mother-Daughter Donation: How Sharing a Kidney Saved Our Family

2011-04-05T22:05:01-04:00

"Hi, Mommy. It's me. I've got some good news! I just got a call from Ellen, the committee has cleared me as a [kidney] donor for you. I'm really excited about that! I love you, Mommy. Talk to you soon."

That was July, 2007.

My name is Erica, I'm an editor here at The Huffington Post. In my work on HuffPost's Impact section, my job is to share inspiring stories with America. I often write about struggle and sacrifice and the unique ways people help one another.

Yet, as often as I share others' stories, I don't often put into words the biggest contribution I have made: donating one of my kidneys to my mother.

In honor of National Donate Life Month, my mom, Terry, and I have decided to share our recollections and the voice mail messages that we have saved from that time.

Included here is our story, in our own words.

Terry:

About 30 years ago, while living in Tucson, Arizona, I began to experience subtle signs of illness for which my doctors could not find an explanation. After years of frustrating treatment, for a variety of, in hindsight, erroneous diagnoses, I was told that I had chronic renal insufficiency. My family's medical history indicated that dialysis would be a poor treatment option for me. Because of this, I was faced with three options: a cadaveric kidney transplant, a living donor transplant or death.

My doctor advised me that a living donor kidney transplant was my best chance for a normal life, and so my family, friends and colleagues stepped forward to be tested as donors. Of 22 potential living donors, and one courageous family who agreed to donate their daughter's kidney after her brief, fatal illness, only my husband and daughter made it to the last round of testing.

In the final screenings, however, my husband found out he had been born with a benign kidney defect. This condition made him an unsuitable candidate for donation. In the end, only Erica was cleared to donate.

I hoped that we could schedule the surgery at a convenient time for Erica, who was a junior in college at the time, but my body was working on its own schedule.

In September, 2007, I was told that the situation was urgent. I needed a kidney.

"Hi, Erica. It's Mom. Sweetheart, can you give Daddy or me a call when you have some time? I know you are busy with classes, but I just found out that I need to have a transplant within the next couple of weeks. I'm so sorry. I tried to hold out until Christmas break, but I didn't quite make it. I love you, Daughter. Call as soon as you can."

Erica:

Her message came as a shock. I had thought we had more time, I had thought the transplant was still months off. In an instant, the situation suddenly grew dire.

It hurt to hear my mom apologize for being sick, as if she had any control over her body's growing desperation for a functioning kidney.

I was glad I could help. Getting approved as a kidney donor was an exciting bit of luck.

What made our story so startling was that I am adopted. Typically, relatives have the best shot at being a match, it's very rare for biological strangers to be compatible.

The fact that my mother didn't actually give birth to me, yet I still had the perfect organ to save her life, solidified my belief that this was fate -- perhaps even part of a divine plan -- for me to be the one to donate.

It was terrifying. But the pressure of my mom's condition, and the urgency with which she needed a kidney transplant, made me disinclined to so much as blink the wrong way each time the topic was publicly breached.

Only in quiet moments did I confess my fears to my endlessly supportive boyfriend, the same one who would patiently care for me during the weeks to come.

Ultimately, however, no thought could be scarier than the possibility of losing my mother. That was my driving force.

Our surgery was quickly scheduled for October 2.

Terry:

For the first time, not only was my daughter facing a difficulty I could not help her through, but she was taking care of me. Erica was the first to be wheeled into the operating room, and I followed about an hour later. My husband and a few friends waited during our four-hour procedure.

When I awakened from surgery, in the intensive care unit, the first thing I did was to ask the staff about my daughter. A nurse pointed to a bed across the room.

Later, I heard a voice asking me to open my eyes. They had wheeled my daughter's bed next to mine so that we were facing each other. I heard Erica say, weakly, "How are you, Mommy?" I replied, "I'm fine, Sweetheart, how are you?" She said, "I love you, Mommy." I told her that I loved her and they wheeled her out of the room. That was the last time I saw my daughter for several days. However, knowing that my husband and our friends were taking care of her gave me some of the comfort I needed to face the days and weeks of the challenging recovery.

The surgeon said that my daughter's transplanted kidney started working immediately, even before I was taken out of the operating room. Although my husband said the color in my face was instantly better than it had been in years, the recovery process was more painful than I could have imagined. My surgeon's assurances, my strong faith, the prayers of hundreds of wonderful people in our church and work communities and the care of a small group of very dear friends sustained all of us. For their care and support, I am forever grateful.

Erica:

I was in the hospital for a few days, and out of school for a few weeks, before resuming my classwork. I went back to my regular life very quickly, although my body took months to fully adjust.

My mother's recovery was, understandably, a much longer ordeal, but her transformation has been incredible. Her doctors joke she's a model patient, an ideal example of how a transplant should go.

Today, it all seems like a distant dream. The fear of losing my mom has dissipated over the years, as I have watched her grow stronger and stronger.

I relish in seeing her spirited, remembering that a few years ago, she couldn't muster that energy. Now, a long workout at the gym or even a marathon mother-daughter shopping session, which once would have been too exhausting, are commonplace activities.

Our scars -- and my mother's improved health -- are proud reminders of our accomplishment, but for the most part, we can live normal lives.

For me, the sacrifice seems so minor in comparison to the impact it has had -- saving my mother's life, preserving my family and giving me the gift of continuing to have her in my life.

Please visit the Donate Life America website for more information about how to become an organ or tissue donor. Supporters can also get involved by making a financial contribution and spreading awareness about the millions of Americans in need of transplants.

The United Network for Organ Sharing, the parent organization of Donate Life America, also offers resources for potential donors, transplant recipients and people in need.

Common's Mission To Help American Kids 'Get Schooled' (Exclusive)

2010-10-17T18:28:37-04:00

"How many of us really want to achieve in life and do something great?" hip-hop artist Common shouted into a packed high school auditorium.

Lincoln High students cheered and raised their hands high in response.

He continued, "Everybody in here has the opportunity to do something great and it starts first with education."

Common was addressing a crowd of students at a Philadelphia high school as part of the Get Schooled campaign's campus visits.

This isn't the artist's first foray into promoting education -- in fact, it's been an enduring mission for the Chicago-born actor, musician and author.

Common recently spoke to The Huffington Post about the importance of education and how he's working to make a difference for young people.

The son of a school teacher, Common credits his mother's influence for his success. "Education goes beyond your homework," he recalls her saying.

His mother worked tirelessly to ensure her son got a quality education beyond the classroom, filling his free time with museum visits and book reports. The hard work paid off when Common won a scholarship to Florida A&M University, where he studied business.

He speaks proudly of his mother's over 20-year career in South Side Chicago public schools and feels teachers get too little credit for their efforts. "Being a teacher is a big responsibility," he says, one for which "there is no glory."

In 2007, the star solidified his commitment to education by establishing the Common Ground Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes educational programs.

"When I got a platform to achieve some...dreams I had, I wanted to help others achieve theirs," he told HuffPost.

One of the more noteworthy initiatives in the organization is The Corner Book Club, which Common envisions as "a network of young people that want to learn."

Each month, users are encouraged to read the same book and use online discussion boards to participate with their peers.

Common also plans to continue participating in the Get Schooled initiative, speaking to young people across the nation. Funded by AT&T, Viacom and the Gates Foundation, Get Schooled aims to boost high school graduation rates and college readiness across America.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Lincoln High School," he laughs. He feels the campus visits are a "fun way to get the message to inspire our youth."

Common tells HuffPost, "I want to inspire. That's one of the biggest goals of my life."

Supporters can make a donation to the Common Ground Foundation or pledge to make a difference for education by getting involved in the Get Schooled campaign.

Common addresses Lincoln High School students.

WATCH:

Classroom Heroes: Rafe Esquith's Mission To Share Shakespeare With His Students

2010-10-04T20:14:39-04:00

Sir Ian McKellen and the members of England's Royal Shakespeare Company sat in rapt attention inside an inner-city Los Angeles classroom.

They watched as a group of fifth graders showcased their acting abilities and musical talent in a collection of scenes from Shakespeare's works.

Members of the troupe gave a standing ovation and congratulated teacher Rafe Esquith. The performance, they told him, was the "ultimate example of why Shakespeare should be performed."

Despite catapulting to international fame for his work teaching underprivileged children the art of Shakespeare, veteran teacher Rafe Esquith shies away from center stage. He strives to keep the focus on his students. His humility underscores his teaching philosophy, one he endeavors to share with parents and fellow teachers.

Over the last 25 years, Esquith has built a tremendous community around his classroom. Former students and other supporters help Esquith continue to supply exciting learning opportunities for the children who enter his classroom.

When Esquith stepped into Hobart Boulevard Elementary School as a young teacher in 1985, he was shocked by what he found.

At Hobart, 92 percent of the students live in poverty. Of the school's graduates, Esquith says only 30 percent are expected to earn a high school diploma.

"My greatest struggle was the realization that this is supposed to be a land of equal opportunity and it's not," Esquith says. He explains his work is "trying to get kids the opportunities promised to them in the Constitution."

In his first year at Hobart, Esquith quickly found the school day too short for all the things he wanted to accomplish. He decided to start after-school drama classes for his students.

By 1991, the after-school lessons in Esquith's Room 56 had evolved into a true Shakespeare company.

Today, the Hobart Shakespeareans are internationally renowned. Each school year, Esquith's fifth graders organize and rehearse a play to be performed in June.

Esquith has been honored with Disney's American Teacher Award and the National Medal of Arts. He has penned three books about his experiences, including the bestseller "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." He's been applauded by everyone from the Dalai Lama to the Queen of England.

Each year, thousands of people flock to his classroom, attempting to find the root of his success.

According to Esquith, the answer is simple: his endurance. "The press gets it wrong, they try to make me this iconic teacher," he explains. "It's not because I'm so brilliant, it's because I stuck with it."

He believes his accomplishments could be replicated by other teachers who are able to hang in there for as long as he has. Twenty-five years after the first meeting of his after-school program, you can still find him inspiring students daily in Room 56.

Since he's been at Hobart for so long, Esquith has built up a community of graduates and supporters. Past students continue to lend a hand, making Room 56 special for future generations.

"I have an army," Esquith jokes.

Matt Parlow, a former student who graduated from Yale Law School, helped Esquith establish the Hobart Shakespearean Foundation. The organization collects donations to advance the classroom's capability to provide amazing experiences for the students, like traveling the country to perform in Shakespeare festivals.

The Song brothers, Berkeley engineering grads both taught by Esquith, set up a website for the Hobart Shakespeareans, providing a way to spread the word about the foundation and solicit online donations.

In Yong Song says he was eager to find a way to use his skills to give back to Esquith's classroom. He and his brother faithfully update the website monthly with the latest news and photos from Esquith's class.

For Song, the lessons he learned from Esquith go beyond Shakespeare. "It's not about teaching kids to be thespians," Song says. He believes it's about teaching team work. "When people come together and work toward a common goal, they can achieve much bigger things."

The annual Shakespeare performances are a testament to this philosophy, as are the academic accomplishments of Esquith's students, who regularly place in the top 10 percent of the nation in test scores.

Esquith's mission is to encourage young teachers to stick with it so they can reach the success he has found.

"I meet lots of great young teachers and they give up too easily," he says. "You're going to have bad days. You're going to have days where you do everything right, and you still have a horrible day, and you go home and you cry. And to make it worse, you put on the latest Hollywood movie about teachers... and that's not you."

He may be applauded for staging complicated plays and raising test scores, but to Esquith, day-to-day persistence is the most crucial and least appreciated quality in a great teacher.

"This is a really hard job," Esquith shares. "This is a long journey. It's a marathon, it's not a sprint."

Supporters can donate online to support the Hobart Shakespeareans.

Selected scenes from the Hobart Shakespeareans' 2010 performance of "The Comedy Of Errors."

WATCH:

Classroom Heroes: Harriett Ball Sings Students To Success (VIDEO)

2010-10-04T01:21:25-04:00

Four years ago, Connie Walthall and her son Tony knocked on the door of Harriett Ball's Texas home.

The young man and his mother were eager to surprise the elementary school teacher.

"I came to thank you. Did you know that Tony came home every day and told me about you?"

Walthall began to describe how her son had returned from school each day repeating Ball's lessons.

Ball told her students they were worth more than the poor neighborhoods they were from, that there was no reason they couldn't achieve their dreams.

Through her son, Walthall began to take Ball's words to heart. She moved out of the stark low-income housing building referred to as "the jailhouse" by neighborhood children.

She decided to go back to school to become a teacher.

The Walthalls are one of many families touched by Harriett Ball's radical teaching style and words of inspiration.

During the 20-plus years Ball taught in Texas public schools, her methods weren't always applauded.

She sometimes butted heads with a system that didn't appreciate deviation from the norm.

However, Ball was committed to her rambunctious teaching style, which is now nationally celebrated.

Teach To What Kids Know

As a young teacher, Ball never let standardized tests put limits on what her students should learn.

One day, as a game of naming state capitals sent echoes of cheers and shouts down the hallways of Houston's Bastian Elementary School, the principal popped in to see what was going on.

He quickly intervened. "These are fourth graders. They don't need to know the state capitals. It won't be on the test."

"Yes sir," Ball feigned compliance.

When the door swung shut, Ball quickly resumed her lesson, albeit at a muffled volume.

She used songs, chants and games to get kids excited about learning. "I take whatever the kids are watching and make it educational," she said.

Ball once taught math using a McDonald's commercial tune; another time, she used a mock boxing match to help students "knock out the continents" for a geography test.

"They all aced the test," she remembers.

Interaction is the cornerstone of Ball's method. "They're not just listening to me, they are responding."

The dramatic improvement in her students' test scores soon attracted attention.

Teaching The Teachers

In 1993, a struggling young Teach For America instructor named David Levin approached Ball. "Do you mind if I sit in on your class?" he asked her. "I've never seen teaching like this before."

Levin soon began spending his lunch hour observing Ball's class. Then he began to meet Ball for mentoring after school and on weekends.

Inspired by Ball's success teaching Bastian Elementary's underprivileged students, Levin and his friend Mike Feinberg founded the Knowledge Is Power Program.

The young men borrowed the name from the lyrics of a song Ball used to encourage her students to read.

Today, there are 99 KIPP Academies across the nation, putting low income students on a path to college.

No Child Left Behind

Ball continues to make an impact in education. With Harriett Ball Enterprises, her teaching consultancy firm, Ball tours the country training teachers her methods, which she calls "fearless learning".

She also shares her message through books and television appearances.

She rejects the term "low performing" in reference to students.

"I don't know what those are," she says. Ball prefers the phrase "under-taught."

She cautions against judging children -- or putting them into categories -- based on their appearance or their family life.

Instead, by helping teachers improve, she hopes to reach under-taught children across the nation.

Every child, Ball says, has "hidden treasures, but no one's opened up the chest yet."

That's where the teacher comes in.

To see Harriett Ball teaching her students the metric system with one of her many catchy tunes, watch the video below.

WATCH:

To make a donation to Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), which runs schools across the country based on Harriett Ball's revolutionary teaching techniques, visit KIPP.org.

Charles Eggleston, Wounded Warrior, Helps Other Wounded Warriors Through USO Programs

2010-07-03T07:29:51-04:00

Mention the United Service Organizations -- almost universally known as the USO -- to most Americans, and the first thing you'll likely hear is "Bob Hope." The USO is eager to change that image. Not that organizing performances for the troops isn't an integral part of their mission, but the expansive programs and services they provide does so much more than entertain.

Through Independence Day, HuffPost Impact is running a series of stories called "Breaking the Roles," highlighting the servicemen and women of our armed forces who don't typically see the media spotlight, and the remarkable work of the USO, who are tireless in their efforts to support all who defend our country.

When two improvised explosive devices detonated next to Staff Sergeant Charles Eggleston's vehicle in Iraq, he was sent was flying through the air, crashing into another vehicle. Eggleston suffered severe injuries running down his left side -- his spine was close to being severed, his arm injured, face scarred. He was taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he spent over three years recovering from his injuries. While the length of his recovery is in part due to the severity of his injuries, it was also partly caused by the slowness with which his case was addressed.

In 2007, when a Washington Post exposé brought a cloud of scandal to Walter Reed Medical Center, Eggleston joined fellow soldiers in speaking out about the inadequate care he received at the hospital. When Eggleston first arrived at the hospital, it took two months before staffers scheduled surgeries to mend the shattered discs in his spine and another eight months before he was treated for the brain injuries he suffered.

Today, Eggleston continues to struggle with his health problems, his body riddled with titanium rods and plates to hold his back in place. He is currently recovering from another of his many back surgeries, the most recent just three months ago. Eggleston is optimistic; he considers himself "60 percent healed." Doctors estimate he will be done with his recuperation process by 2013 or 2014. He refuses pity, saying, "I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me, I signed up to do this job."

Eggleston on a tour of duty in Iraq.

Where his medical care was lacking, Eggleston says the warmth of USO staff and volunteers at Walter Reed made up for it. "When I come out of surgery, I'm always seeing the USO people smiling... It makes you feel special. For that moment, it made you feel like someone is listening." USO Metro D.C. volunteers at Walter Reed provided Eggleston with companionship and support through his many surgeries and helped facilitate his family visits during his time in the hospital.

For Eggleston, having an organization he could trust was key. "I see so many organizations out there that are not valid...that use and abuse wounded warriors." According to Eggleston, soldiers aren't the types to ask for help or seek out social services. That's why it's crucial that the USO goes the extra mile to get to know individual wounded warriors and offer help. "It's all about outreach -- these are the guys doing that outreach." During his days in the hospital, Eggleston began supporting the USO by encouraging other recovering soldiers to accept USO help.

Now, Eggleston has joined the ranks of Operation Enduring Care, the USO's program to support wounded warriors and their families through their medical care and beyond. He says, "The first line of defense is becoming an inspiration to other soldiers...I try to inspire other soldiers because we're all one family." Eggleston checks in regularly with his network of wounded warriors and shares an encouraging message for friends who are feeling hopeless. If he senses a fellow wounded warrior might be in danger of hurting himself, he puts them on 'suicide watch' -- keeping tabs on them himself and alerting the Operation Enduring Care staff of his concerns. He explains, "I don't want to lose another guy to suicide if I can help it." His message to others: "The worst thing you can do is kill yourself after you were almost killed in war. You're worth more than that."

Baseball player Barry Bonds visiting Eggleston in the hospital, 2006.

Eggleston is modest about his contributions, saying "I can't take credit [for Operation Enduring Care], I'm a very little piece of it." Giving back does give him a sense of fulfillment. "At the end of the day, I can lay my head down and say I've helped another person. I just hope other folks do the same."

In addition to building one-on-one relationships with fellow wounded warriors, Eggleston is also an eager participant in almost any USO event -- annual golf tournaments are a favorite activity. Eggleston looks forward to continuing to lend a hand to the USO in years to come. He speaks excitedly about the Wounded Warrior Support Center that the USO is building in Bethesda, Maryland. The center will offer services for recovering soldiers and serve as a family hub that will support wounded warriors' families. According to Eggleston, the new center shows one of the USO's priorities is clearly to "make it easier for the family." This priority is meaningful to him, a family-oriented man, who has a wife and two children of his own, and eagerly includes his cousins, aunts and uncles when asked about his family.

Of the relationship between the troops and the USO, Eggleston says, "We protect, and they protect us." Eggleston may be war hero decorated with a purple heart, but he says of the USO, "they're my heroes."

Make a donation to the USO today and support those who have sacrificed to protect the U.S.

Follow the USO on Facebook and Twitter.

Michael Deihl, Acclaimed Chef, Makes A Difference For The Troops Through Food

2010-07-01T02:06:55-04:00

Mention the United Service Organizations -- almost universally known as the USO -- to most Americans, and the first thing you'll likely hear is "Bob Hope." The USO is eager to change that image. Not that organizing performances for the troops isn't an integral part of their mission, but the expansive programs and services they provide does so much more than entertain.

Through Independence Day, HuffPost Impact is running a series of stories called "Breaking the Roles," highlighting the servicemen and women of our armed forces who don't typically see the media spotlight, and the remarkable work of the USO, who are tireless in their efforts to support all who defend our country.

At 15 years old, Michael Deihl discovered his gift: food. Ever since, he has been using his talent to earn a living, to delight the taste buds of diners -- and to make a difference in his community. As a child, his mother instilled in him the importance of giving back. Deihl shares, "My mom always had a hand out to help others when we were growing up. We didn't have a lot, but we shared."

A nationally renowned chef, Deihl has worked as the Executive Chef at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, for almost ten years. East Lake is no ordinary golf club -- it's a philanthropic one. The proceeds from the club benefit the East Lake Foundation, an organization providing services like mentoring and college scholarships to revitalize the East Lake community.

Seven years ago, the USO reached out to the Atlanta Chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and asked them to help feed troops passing through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Deihl quickly volunteered for duty and begun preparing sandwiches for soldiers every weekend. From small beginnings, Deihl and other local chefs have grown their efforts into Operation Chefs Unite (OCU). They continue to prepare sandwiches for soldiers at the Atlanta airport five days a week, and now prepare holiday buffets for the soldiers on 13 holidays each year. Deihl has served as president of ACF for two terms, and now sits as chairman of the organization.

The troops enjoying a hearty buffet on Christmas Day, 2009.

Deihl's favorite holiday to feed the troops is Christmas. Each December 25, Deihl rises at 4 a.m., "getting up when Santa's just putting his sleigh away," to prepare a lavish traditional feast for soldiers. Deihl says, "I never felt the spirit of Christmas. I thought I did, but I never felt it until I started getting up early to feed the soldiers."

For soldiers forced to be away from their families on holidays, like the young private who left home on Christmas Eve to ship out for a tour or duty, warm, homemade meals from Deihl and his crew are a godsend. Deihl still remembers the letter of thanks they received from that young soldier's mother, expressing her gratitude for feeding her son Christmas Eve dinner. He says, "Even though we might feed 300 soldiers on a busy holiday, you get to touch each one individually."

Deihl is endlessly impressed with the character of the men and women in uniform. When he thanked a 25-year-old sergeant from Texas for his service, the soldier humbly returned the thanks, reminding Deihl his cooking serves the military in a unique way: "Thank you sir, for coming in on your day off, for your service."

To date, the team behind Operation Chefs Unite has served over one million servicemen and women. Deihl believes "food is an incredible medium" to touch the soldiers' hearts. After all, he jokes, "a well-fed army always wins." He doesn't want credit -- he says, "I might be the figurehead but there are a lot of people behind [Operation Chefs Unite]." He's grateful to his fellow cooks, to local food suppliers for donating food, and, above all, to the warm staff at the USO.

Chef Michael Deihl (top, right) alongside fellow chefs, serving the troops on Labor Day, 2007.

The chef also carries his spirit of giving back into his work as a culinary arts professor. He believes it's important for his generation of chefs to teach the next generation to use their skills to make a difference in their community, like preparing food for charity fundraisers. He wonders how they would learn it, if not from him. "What...are they going to Twitter it?"

Deihl plans to keep up his efforts for the troops for as long as he is able. He and his fellow chefs also hope to expand Operation Chefs Unite across the nation. When Deihl first agreed to help the USO, he thought the wars abroad wouldn't last longer than six more months. Now, seven years later, the Atlanta airport continues to buzz with troops coming in and out.

Deihl wants to remind Americans to keep the soldiers on their minds. He explains, "As war drags on, people forget who's really fighting it." He encourages other Americans to use their talents and resources to support the USO. He beams, "It gives me a good feeling as an American to be supporting the people who are giving me my freedom."

Make a donation to the USO today and support those who have sacrificed to protect the U.S.

Follow the USO on Facebook and Twitter.

It Just Takes One: Debi Kroman Dedicates Two Decades To Supporting Parentless Children

2010-05-07T07:00:00-04:00

In honor of Mother's Day, HuffPost Impact presents It Just Takes One, a series on children and the tutors, mentors, guardians and others who have made a difference in their lives. We'll be featuring a new story every day through Mother's Day.

When Debi Kroman and her husband moved to Altadena, Calif., in 1988, she wanted to get involved. It wasn't hard to make a decision as to where she wanted to make a difference. With no children of her own, Debi wanted to help young people who were growing up without love and attention. She discovered Five Acres, a nonprofit that advocates for children and provides housing and supportive services for children.

After being cleared by the organization, Debi became a "Special Friend," the organization's term for an adult friend and role model, to an 11-year-old boy named Steven*. Each week, Debi would take Steven to the movies or out to lunch. He was guarded at first, but Debi heeded Five Acres' advice not to pressure him and to allow him to open up when he was ready.

Debi was excited to discover things that Steven enjoyed; his passion for animals and airplanes led them to the Pasadena Humane Society and the Museum of Flying. The pair would "do things he liked to do, so it brought out his personality," she explained.

Christmas 1992: Debi and Steven, Age 11.

Steven eventually opened up about his difficult experiences with his father, then imprisoned. Debi was moved by "how much pain the kids [at Five Acres] have to deal with."

After several years, Debi began to focus on group events at Five Acres. She started working with Fives Acres' Children's Guild, a group of local adults who organize monthly events for the children.

Christmas 1992

Together, the Children's Guild members plan outings to nearby botanical gardens or children's museums, organize pizza and movie nights, and holiday craft projects. When a child has a birthday, the Children's Guild organizes a birthday party complete with a cake and an anonymous gift from the "special angels."

During Debi's years with the Children's Guild, she met a young girl named Tiffany* with a "smile that melted you." Debi and her husband decided to take Tiffany* under their wing as a couple.

Each time the Kromans hung out with Tiffany, Debi recorded their time together in a journal, keeping scraps like movie tickets to commemorate everything they did. For each entry, Debi would write a message to Tiffany, "something she could take with her to help guide her in life." The couple prepared crabs' legs at Tiffany's request for a Christmas feast and had presents waiting for her when she woke up on Christmas morning.

When Tiffany was taken in by a foster mother, and her time with the Kromans came to an end, Debi gave Tiffany the journal as a parting gift, hoping she would find comfort and advice with the wisdom in its pages.

Debi hopes to inspire others to work with children in need.

"There are so many kids in the system and it only takes one person to make a difference in a kid's life. Even if you only do it for one year, these kids need to have positive role models. I look at these children and they just want somebody to care about them. So many people have the time, but choose not too."

Now, almost 20 years since she first took Steven under her wing, Debi serves on the Board of Directors at Five Acres and stays active propelling the organization forward and continuing to serve children who need it the most.

Learn more about Five Acres programs and the five ways you can help them improve the lives of children.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the children included in this story.

It Just Takes One: Foster Mother Mollie Jelks Raises 36 Foster Children

2010-05-03T06:00:00-04:00

In honor of Mother's Day, HuffPost Impact presents It Just Takes One, a series on children and the tutors, mentors, guardians and others who have made a difference in their lives. We'll be featuring a new story every day through Mother's Day.

After spending 22 years of her life working in mortgage banking, Mollie Jelks admits she never found the sense of fulfillment she longed for. When her Citibank office relocated to St. Louis, Jelks wasn't willing to follow. Instead, she picked up a temp job at the Children's Bureau, a Southern California organization working with abused and neglected children, pairing them with loving foster and adoptive parents. She reflects, "I didn't know what it meant to be a foster parent, I just wanted to help kids."

Inspired by the children she saw daily at Children's Bureau, Jelks took in a foster child of her own. Jelks' biological children were grown, with the youngest finishing her last two years of high school. Jelks filled out an application, and before she knew it, she had a rambunctious five-year-old under her care. Jelks recalls, "Her name was Precious, but she was the opposite."

Despite Precious' best attempts to thwart her guardian's warmth, she soon found herself eager for her daily hugs from Jelks. A psychiatrist who worked with Precious was stunned at the difference. "What did you do to her? She's been in the system for 18 months. We thought she'd never give or receive love."

Jelks' experience inspired her to keep going -- over the last 16 years, she's taken in 36 foster kids, many of whom came to her malnourished, scared by abuse or neglected by drug addicted parents. Four of the children that passed through Jelks' doors never left -- she adopted two boys and two girls.

To support her family, Jelks started a day care center on her property, based on the same principles she uses to raise her own children: "teaching love and sharing." Jelks now employs three staff members, each committed to her vision of fostering a "home away from home" for the youngsters.

By far, her biggest challenge was Kendra, a young girl who had been bounced around to different homes countless times. After struggling with a schizophrenic mother, given up by her biological grandmother and being rejected after two years with an adopted family, Kendra was an emotionally scarred little girl -- deemed "too difficult" by many that tried to care for her.

Frustratied by the circus that left Kendra feeling rejected and unloved, Jelks decided to give her a permanent home. Getting Kendra to come out of her shell, however, was another task altogether.

Through it all, Jelks didn't give up hope, continuing to support Kendra, even when her actions seemed to go unnoticed or unappreciated. She explained to Kendra, "What's your last name? Jelks. What's my last name? Jelks. That means we're family now." It took nearly five and a half years, but slowly, Kendra began to open up, to trust Jelks and to accept that she could be loved.

Jelks speaks fondly of Children's Bureau, the same organization through with she took in all of her foster and adopted children. She laughs, "I'm not biased, but they're the best."

The feeling, it seems, is mutual. "Mollie is an inspiration to all parents. She has a true love for children along with the warmth, kindness and patience it takes to make a difference in the lives of these special children. We are fortunate to have this extraordinary woman as part of our Children's Bureau family," said Lou Graham, Children's Bureau's director of foster care and adoption programs.

Now, rising to take care of her four young adopted children and oversee the day care center, Jelks believes "every morning is a joy." Jelks is proud of her brood, speaking excitedly of each of their unique talents. Of young Tyler, she gushes "oh, he's the lawyer." Between track practice for 14-year-old Kendra, piano lessons for 12-year-old Amy, dance classes for nine-year-old Sean and basketball games for 11-year-old Tyler, Jelks has a busy schedule, helping all of her kids reach their potential.

Now in her 60s, Jelks is taking a step back from foster parenting, focusing on raising her adopted children. Jelks shares the knowledge she's accumulated over her lifetime of parenting as a mentor to other foster parents.

Mollie Jelks and her chidren. Photo by Michele K. Short.

When she encountered a foster mother struggling to get through to a girl, who, like Kendra, was introverted, she knew how to help. The mother had hoped to solve her own unhappiness by caring for the girl, but the struggle was making her even more unhappy. Jelks advised her, you're "putting too much on the child. Find happiness with yourself, so you can take demands off the child."

When the mother returned to Jelks, months later, to announce the pair had had a breakthrough and were finally getting to know each other and develop a loving relationship. "To hear that victory, that's the ultimate goal of mentoring."

Make a donation to Children's Bureau or learn more about becoming a foster parent.

Haitian Small Businesses Hurting: Is Aid To Blame?

2010-03-04T18:35:31-05:00

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti in January, international aid has been pouring into the island. Aid efforts organized by the United Nations, the U.S. and other countries have brought food, water and other supplies to earthquake survivors in need. While the nature of the disaster required that immediate response, now, almost two months later, the aid strategy hasn't changed. What cost does this type of aid have on Haitian business owners trying to get back on their feet after the earthquake?

The Wall Street Journal reports that small business owners aren't able to sell their products when competing with free foreign aid. With these local businesses not able to turn a profit, they aren't able to rehire their employees, leaving Haitian workers without a vital source of income that could help their families rebuild their homes.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Alex Zamor's drinking-water factory is operating again at near full capacity after suffering damage from the earthquake. But he still hasn't rehired 200 employees at the factory because sales are so weak. He blames free water handed out by the relief effort.

"Of course we welcome the relief, but nobody wants to buy water if there's free water on the streets," he says. Mr. Zamor says international relief agencies should be sourcing more of their products for the relief effort from Haiti itself. "We should be helping Haitian companies instead of companies in Florida," he says.

Chilean Girl Saves Her Island From Tsunami After Earthquake

2010-03-04T13:08:36-05:00

When the 8.8 earthquake hit Chile over the weekend, 12-year-old Martina Maturana knew exactly what to do. Living in low-lying areas on Chile's Robinson Crusoe island, Martina's community was especially in danger of tsunami following the earthquake. Martina quickly ran to ring the warning bell, alerting her neighbors that a wave was approaching, so they could run to safety. Because of her quick thinking, Martina was able to save her neighbors' lives.

WATCH:

Mother Of Three Works As Baker On Nights, Weekends To Provide For Children

2010-03-03T17:21:03-05:00

Mother Lynette Slaton works night shifts and weekends as a baker in order to provide for her family and care for her young children during the day. Between motherhood and late night bread baking, Slaton finds herself busy around the clock. She says of balancing work and family, "I'm a proud mother of three, so that sometimes can be a little bit harder for me, because I have to deal with colds, school appointments...and at the same time, maintain a certain level of professionalism."

While the long hours are difficult, Slaton explains she and her husband gladly sacrifice personal time to provide the best life they can for their son and two young daughters.

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