Illnesses plague family's attempt to bounce back

She thought this Christmas would be better than last year's holiday, when her family was living in a homeless shelter.

"We received a little help from Christmas for All back then, and it helped so much," said the mother of two middle-schoolers.

The family ended up at the shelter after they lost their home to foreclosure in 2013, after her husband was laid off from his job of many years. The mom was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time and was not working.

They eventually left the shelter and went and stayed with her cousin, their only relative in the area. The family of four shared a small basement room, sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

"But we were getting back on track. My husband finally found another job and we saved some money," she said.

They moved into their own place last August - a small rental house.

Within weeks, her 12-year-old daughter's asthma flared up. Then her son became ill, with an itchy, weeping rash on his face, precariously close to his eye.

An urgent care doctor suggested they have their new home checked for mold. They learned that some of the outer walls of the house were riddled with mildew and mold.

"We had to move again, and we had to get rid of a lot of things," the mom told Christmas for All.

They're back with the cousin, saving up again for another place to live.

With her breast cancer now in check, the mother said she's ready to start working again.

"It's been a real struggle, but we keep going. We try to keep our spirits up, for the kids," she said.

With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.

Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.

Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 29th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.

To give, please send a check to:

Press Christmas for All, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.

Donations can be made securely online at www.christmasforallcda.com.

Recent donors include: John and Betsy Mctear; Fightin' Creek Smoke Shop; Contractors Northwest; Lake City Ford Lincoln, Inc.; Northwest Realty Group; Jamie Ann Lee; Diane and Fred Hammack; Anonymous; The Pastras Family; Cathy Bircher, in loving memory of my husband, Donald Bircher; Toni and Wray Wilson; Darrell and Anita Louks and Janice Oliver; F. Shankle; Conrad and Trudy Chisholm; James and Jennifer Custer; E. and J. Eichwald; Phillip and Mary Hayes; Craig and Janet Heilman; Monika and John Krapfl; W Huender; Barbara Ketchum; Steve and Julie Latina; Dennis and Nancy Johnson; Dave and Janie Sande; Patricia Backer; Darrel and Beverly Wilson; Gary and Tudy Gilbert; William and Juanita Saunders; Terry and Marcia Fisher; Elizabeth Gibbons; Patricia Krug; Evamae Kline and Midge Smock; William and Ruth Kauffman; Hayden Car Wash; Allan and Delores Williams; RJ Schippers, Inc; Von and Elke Helmuth; Steve Bell; Kim and J Cecil Lewis; Jacqueline Kleinjans; David and Debra English; Kevin Rodland; Joyce Brockhoff; Marvin and Margaret White; Frank and Leta Jessick; Rosemary McGrath; Peter and Renate Rau; Robert and Karey Mitchell; Diane and Greg Snyder; Margie Wise; Mark Steven Herndon; Henry and Dennis Anders; Thomas and Kathleen Trotter; The James Family; James and Robt. Elgee; Judy and Dale Bennett; Nona Trujillo; James and Signe Shank; Shirley Wastweet; Jessie Jordahl; Coeurly Q's Square Dance Club; William and Sharon Carlson; Carol Morrisen; Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge No 1254; Anonymous.