Reviewing the website, we found that children worldwide who have different types of medical conditions were helped by the Herbie Fund. Some of the children who were treated had heart problems, rare congenital condition, rare liver disease, deafness, intestinal problems, throat cancer, malformations of hand and feet, congenital uterine abnormality, and much more (The Herbie Fund, 2013). Most of these conditions were not treatable in the children's home country and the parents did not have the money to afford surgeries. For that reason, parents became active in their research as they were concerned about their child's future. Most of the parents began there research by asking doctors for possible future options and this resulted in the referral to Sick Kids hospital; parents filled out applications for their child to be looked upon. Other common way parents became proactive was through researching on-line, reading magazine articles and newspapers. Parents were eager to help their child and began to ask extended family members and friends for help. For some families, relatives who lived outside of the sick child's country researched and found out about the Herbie Fund. The action was immediate and there were no second thoughts; parents contacted for help and started the journey for the improvement of their child's life.
To read stories about children who have been cured by the Herbie Fund please visit the website:
http://www.herbiefund.com/storyarchives.asp
I have never heard of The Herbie Fund before reading your blog. Provided it is well-known, how to they select from all the applicants? What qualifies a child for consideration? Are there any links you can share to find out more info on this?
ReplyDeleteThe way the Herbie Fund goes through multiple steps in selecting the applicant by meeting the criteria to be a Herbie patient, and once they meeting the criteria, it is than reviewed again but by a larger group of medical committee at SickKids. The consideration the child has to have to be consider as a Herbie patient is:
Delete1. The child is 14 years or younger
2. The patient's treatment or surgery is not available in their country
3. The patient does not have life threatening disease because the process of allowing a patient into the country could take up 6 months because of the government processing
4. The surgery is a one-step fix by the majority of the Herbie patients have either cardiac or plastic surgeries whereas a child could be treated and essentially ‘cured.’
5. There is little to no follow up after the surgery, that the patient is able to access the follow in their home country.
If you have any more questions on the Herbie Fund you can always go on the Herbie Fund website http://www.herbiefund.com/default.asp, or can email at the Herbie Fund for any more question you have herbiefund@sickkidsfoundation.com.
Thank you for commenting and asking questions
-Jasmine and Julia
This sounds like a wonderful foundation! I have also never heard of the Herbie fund before your blog, however I am very intrigued by it. It appears to be helping those who can't help themselves, which is always nice to see. It makes you realize how lucky we are in Canada to have access to health care and resources for our own well being and our children's well being. I can't imagine what these families go through, but I am happy to see they are getting help from someone!
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
DeleteIt is a wonderful foundation for children to access health care when they are unable in their country because they do not have the funds or their hospital does not have the equipment. The Herbie fund does make you thankful for the access of health care, and Canadian hospitals are almost fully equip with the technology to diagnosis and help cure the disease a person may have.
This is the first time I am hearing about the Herbie Fund and their contributions to provide medical attention to sick kids around the world!! This organization really helps those who are unable to afford intensive surgeries or medication. The reality is that many people live in harsh environments where access to essential needs are limited. The Herbie Fund gives those people a greater chance for survival and a reason to look forward to the future. It is relieving to see community members actively involved in providing medical care to children worldwide! Will you ladies be participating in the walk for children in the summer of 2014? I would be interested in taking part and supporting this community event!!
ReplyDeleteComment above is from Erica Colaluca
DeleteErica,
DeleteYes, you can come out and join us! It would be a great day to visit the Zoo and help spread the awareness of the Herbie Fund. We plan to attend it next year because we truly believe that this foundation deserves a lot of attention.
Just wondering, if this organization helps children in developing parts of the world, how do the people in the developing parts of the world access the service?
ReplyDeleteJosephine,
DeleteThe children who need treatment will be selected upon there status in various areas such as; socioc-economic, country's medical care, critical condition of the child. Also, the families can contact the Herbie Fund or Sick Kids Hospital.
Thankyou for your comment
-Jasmine & Julia.
Just like others, I too never heard of Herbie foundation before until your blog. However, as a mother/educator I’m extremely pleased and appreciate foundations that reach out to countries where families and children are in desperate need, because here in Canada we are grateful for all the services provided. Moreover, how can people from around the world access there service and do they have personals that speak in every language because what if parents in non-English speaking counties wanted to make use of their service? P.s I would love to join the walk for Herbie Foundation that’s held in August, please give me info.
ReplyDeleteBelgin Oksem.
The way people can access the program if they are unable to speak the language is they can go to their doctor to help the family fill out their form and send to to the Herbie Fund. Once the children are chosen to do the surgery, they are able to access a translator with communicating with the doctors, nurses, and social works. Since the walk for the Herbie Fund had passed, you can always check the website when they post information on the walk.
DeleteThank you,
-Jasmine & Julia
I never heard of Herbie Fund till your blog however I find this organization truly amazing. I find it wonderful that physicians are taking their own time to do these surgeries and free of charge. However it is sad that many countries lack affordable health care but it is good to see that there is an organization like Herbie Fund who helps families and brings their children to Sick Kids Hospital. I feel like this organization is a great organization to advocate for and is truly helping many in need.
ReplyDelete-Sumaiyah Diwan
Sumaiyah,
DeleteIt is a wonderful foundation to know and to tell others about because it is for families who do not have the funds, or their hospitals do not have the machines to conduct the surgeries. This foundation is international base where they take on children from different countries because they want a better lifestyle for all children.
Thank you for your comment
-Jasmine & Julia