Epilepsy Outreach News

Help the ELF

February 7, 2010

Who we are...

I am Brendan Leyden, founder of E.L.F. (Emmett Leyden’s Friends).  In the years 2006-2007, my cousin, Emmett, was in the hospital for weeks on end, due to his Epilepsy.  Half way into his stay, we started to worry that he would have to stay and miss Thanksgiving. 

Whenever we went to visit him, he would be lying in the bed, most of the time crying because he would need to take five different blood tests, several CAT scans and on top of everything, he would sit there, thinking about it all day because there was nothing to do.  That was when I came up with E.L.F.  Our mission is to provide these hospitals with a new toy room, so that people like Emmett, can still enjoy the holidays, even if they are in the hospital.

Thanks to all of your support, over the past two campaigns, we have collected over three thousand dollars, and have delivered hundreds of toys to three different hospitals (Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago Illinois,  Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Central DuPage Hospital, DuPage Illinois).

With your continued support, we hope to double that for the 2009-2010 campaign, so that two more hospitals can get the toys that they deserve.

I thank you for all of your continued support and donations.

                                                                  

Sincerely,

 

 

Brendan Leyden
Founder of E.L.F  

 

What we do...


Help the E.L.F., which is now in its third year, is a branch of the American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation.  We commit ourselves to raising money, which will be used to buy toys, to donate to children's hospitals nationwide.  In the past, we have donated to two hospitals, but due to the current economic status, we thought we'd be forced to only donate to one hospital.  Because of your tremendous support through this difficult year, Help the E.L.F. is now glad to say that we are officially giving to two hospitals this year, and that number may grow to three still. This year's hospitals are Lutheran General Children's Hospital and La Rabida Children's Hospital, both in the Chicago area.  Because you opened your heart, you have put a smile on a child’s face, who you probably don’t even know.

 

 

 

February 12, 2010

Dear Tracy, Tom and Brendan,  

On behalf of Advocate Health Care, thank you for your donation of toys as well as the visit with Skates to Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.  Thanks to you and the American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation for creating a positive environment filled with love and support for our littlest patients.  It is only through generous people like yourselves that we are able to make their stay a bit more positive.  We are grateful for your kindness and partnership as together we build a brighter day for our children. 

Much thanks,

Areum Min, Child Life Specialist
Lutheran General Children's Hospital
Park Ridge, Illinois

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                  

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Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children, often causing damage to the developing brain and causing premature loss of life. Sadly, public perception is that epilepsy is a benign condition that is easily treated, and this is why research efforts have lagged far behind where they should be, given the prevalence and devastation of epilepsy. I applaud the Leyden family for their courage in sharing their personal story. I know that by doing so they will help to raise awareness of the millions of other families who are also desperately seeking answers for their children.

Susan Axelrod - Founder of C.U.R.E.