They could be the person next to you at the stop light. Or the man in front of you at the grocery store. Or possibly the woman serving you at the restaurant. They are everywhere, sight unseen yet such a gift they are here. Who, you ask? They are angels among us. They are the donors, the volunteers, the staff, the prayer chains, the friends, the neighbors, everyone who comes together to walk a difficult journey with you.
Two Papillion families are well aware of the angels among us and even more so the organization bearing that name. When Kate and Riley Courtright were expecting their second child in 2018, they never dreamed that their son, Caysen (two and a half years old at the time) would be diagnosed with Leukemia.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Kate said. “This isn’t happening.”
Fortunately for the Courtrights, along with excellent medical treatments, they were quickly introduced to Angels Among Us.
“We provide financial and emotional support to pediatric cancer patients and their families,” said Brittany Friesen, Family Programs Director for Angels Among Us. “We’ve been at work here in the Omaha area since 2006.”
Friesen has a personal connection with Angels Among Us as the organization walked alongside her family during her son’s battle with pediatric cancer from 2017 - 2019.
“Caleb passed away in 2019 at the age of five,” she said.
Some of the emotional support offered by Angels Among Us includes family programs geared toward different family members, including siblings. There is a moms’ group that gives moms a chance to recharge and connect with other moms. Several family events occur throughout the year including a family overnight, trunk or treat, and a holiday movie event. All of the programs are at no cost to the families.
“Just getting together gives them a chance to talk about what their families are going through,” Friesen said. “And at the same time, it gives them a chance to relax.”
Marissa and Matt Strickler’s son, Grady, was also just two years old when he was diagnosed with Leukemia.
“It was right at the beginning of Covid, so we had a lot of extra concerns with our son being immunocompromised,” Marissa said. “But our medical team, our families, the community, and Angels Among Us, all stepped in to help.”
Both families received financial resources during their child’s treatment to make their mortgage payments.
“We were so grateful. Those funds were critical to us in keeping our house,” Kate said.
And both families participated in many of the emotional support programs.
“It helps to spend time with other families. They know what we are going through,” Marissa said.
Friesen said Angels Among Us is funded by several very generous donors, along with proceeds from an annual gala, a golf outing, and grants. The organization also hosts numerous smaller fundraisers throughout the year and willingly accepts financial contributions from the community.
And what about Caysen and Grady? How are they doing? “Great”, reports both sets of parents. While they are being monitored for any lasting effects from chemotherapy, both boys are growing, thriving, and have become big brothers. All thanks to the many angels among us.
Angels Among Us walks side by side with these families every step of the way. Visit myangelsamongus.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
Angels Among Us:
-
Serves an average of 125 pediatric cancer families a year for an average of 19 months.
-
Assists with utilities, car payments, and other critical bills; 80% of what they pay is for rent and mortgage.
-
Believes no family should walk alone. Their emotional support program will make over 700 touch points with families this year.