Gifts that lift the heart
<p>Alex Uminski, 4, plays with unopened toys with Darron Rock from Northwest Specialty Hospital at the Union Gospel Mission’s Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene on Friday morning. Northwest Specialty Hospital donated clothes and gifts to 43 residents and 29 children that reside at the center.</p>
<p>Tracy Braulick hugs her daughter Amber Braulick, 4, at Union Gospel Mission’s Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene on Friday morning. Braulick has been at Union Gospel Mission’s Center since August.</p>
<p>Stefani Martin wipes down the counters of the kitchen at the Union Gospel Mission’s Center for Women and Children on Friday morning. Martin has been a resident at Union Gospel Mission since April 2nd and has taken on responsibilities such as kitchen team leader and chore leader.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - It's amazing the joy a few small comforts can bring to a mother and child who are struggling.
Tracy Braulick and her 4-year-old daughter, Amber, are presently residents at the Union Gospel Mission Center for Women and Children in Coeur d'Alene.
Braulick, originally from Billings, Mont., found herself a single mom in March as she left a domestic violence situation. She and Amber moved in with her parents while her husband worked on getting better.
"I just needed more help learning how to deal with the past and learning how to be a better mom," Tracy said Friday morning. "I was getting so overwhelmed."
Shortly after entering the UGM program last August, she received news that her husband was found deceased in his vehicle.
"One of the things I'm working through is learning how to deal with loss," Tracy said.
Tracy also suffers from seizures, which cause stressful situations such as her husband's death to become exponentially more stressful. In the five-phase recovery program at UGM, Tracy is receiving the counseling, support and love she needs to move forward and provide a better life for herself and Amber.
Around the holidays, Tracy and Amber were able to relax and enjoy some cozy new pajamas, courtesy of Northwest Specialty Hospital.
"We did get to go home (for Christmas) but when we came we came back, there was pajamas waiting for us, and a robe, which was really nice, too," Tracy said. "I'm really appreciating the robe and stuff because those pajamas are so warm."
More than 40 residents and nearly 30 children staying at UGM, like Tracy and Amber, were recipients of an abundance of toys, gift cards and clothing that helped ease their struggles and make their seasons bright.
Employees, associates, patients and members of the community plucked item tags from the "giving trees" in Northwest Specialty Hospital, fulfilled the requests and donated them to the cause. Rick Rasmussen, CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital, said it is important to physicians, employees and those affiliated with the hospital to give to the community. This was the first year the hospital organized a Christmas drive to donate to an organization such as UGM, said Darron Rock, director of marketing.
"People coming together to help other people is what it's all about," Rasmussen said. "If even one person had a merrier Christmas because of it, then we have made this community a little bit better place to live and that's a good thing."
Representatives from Northwest Specialty Hospital toured the UGM Center for Women Friday morning and met some of the residents. UGM community relations director Debi Pauletto led the way.
"Our children have not experienced healthy, normal, safe Christmases, and as a result of Northwest Specialty, our children this year were blessed with a Christmas they may have otherwise not had," Pauletto said.
Info: www.uniongospelmission.org