Three years ago my Mom and Dad found their first house to buy.   They knew that this would be a wonderful place for all of us to be a family.  Two weeks before they were to go to the final closing, my little brother, then 9 years old, was diagnosed with a life threatening disease called Chronic Myelogenous leukemia.  This is an adult leukemia therefore he is 1 in one million.  The only cure for this is a bone marrow transplant which neither my younger brother or I are a match. Therefore the outcome is very serious.  My little brother has to take for the rest of his life an oral chemo called Gleevec and daily struggles with the side effects. It was a very hard decision for my parents to go through buying this home.  A few months after, Jonathan then was diagnosed with a second disease in his hip called Perthes.  He has had major surgeries for this hip disorder.  My parents had to make the decision for my Mom to quit her job and remain home with Jonathan.  My Dad is self-employed, but they knew it was the best thing for Jonathan.  She home schools him and they know that he needs the environment to have the strength needed.  Lots of rest, sleep, and little stress.  They continue to make several trips to UNC Chapel Hill for my little brother’s blood counts.  They see Dr. Stewart Gold and also an orthopedic and an endocrinologist.  My Mom is always saying how blessed we are.  Jonathan is 12 years old now.

They spend A LOT of time at home and have made several sacrifices.  My Mom always makes our home a home for us.  She picks wild flowers and always has a candle burning when it rains.  The furniture we have is of bits and pieces given to us over the years or what my Mom picks up from yard sales.  I don’t think anything matches.  Mom keeps twin blankets over the couch.  I know that we have as a family what is needed most.  Love and care.  We also have a lot of faith.

I also know that their dreams of having the things in our home they have always dreamed of have been put aside.  I see that they have many other things that are more important to spend their money on.  I will be leaving home soon.  My little brother will then have my room.  He has never had a room of his own.  He has shared with our other brother.  He talks all the time about it and about how he would like to fix it up.  I want to see my family surrounded with the beauty and comfort they so much would love to have.  It definitely would be a dream come true for all of us.  Thank you for this alternative.

Submitted by David Wayne Stroud, II
19 years old
Knightdale, NC

I am nominating my daughters because they have been non-complaining and been there for me, their mother.  I have been out of work for a few months now due to a back injury.  They have taken care of me with no complaints.
We have only a beaten up sofa, which usually I take up because I am usually laying down since sitting up can be painful after awhile.  They sit on the floor to watch TV.
My daughter, Brittany, is a college student who usually comes home every evening to help me and her sisters.  She sleeps in my bed because we can’t afford to get her a bed.  She has sacrificed a lot.  She helps me pay the bills since I barely have enough to cover monthly bills.
I can’t afford to do anything for them for Christmas.  I feel bad because they are good girls who deserve much more.  My two youngest share a dresser and have mattresses on the floor of their room.  My wish for my daughters is that they have a place to sit while watching TV and have actual beds and their own dressers.
I can’t complain because we do have more than others, we have each other.
Thank you.

Submitted by Jeannette Gonzalez
Raleigh, NC