Serving Critically Ill Children of United States Military Families
Remembering our Veterans, particularly on November 11, the national day of recognition for our nation's heroes…
Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation Serving Families Who Honor us With Their Courage and Dedication to Our Country…
At any given day of the year, the rooms at the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins and the suites at the Believe In Tomorrow House at St. Casimir, are filled to capacity, serving civilian and military families from all over the world who seek treatment for their critically ill child at Baltimore’s renowned Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Whether you’re an active member of the National Guard, a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger, when your family checks in to one of the foundation’s two hospital housing facilities – or one of the five Believe In Tomorrow destination driven respite houses, our mission is to create a safe haven for families battling a child’s critical illness.
Mike and Laurie, have been staying at the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, for more than two months, as their baby continues to progress in the NICU. Although Mike has returned to duty in the US Navy, which takes him away from Baltimore during the week, he is able to spend the weekends with his family at the house, which creates some semblance of normalcy for their older child.
Scores of Believe In Tomorrow volunteers host family suppers at both facilities throughout the week; Guests have access to complimentary passes to sporting events, including Oriole and Ravens games tickets, the Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery and other local attractions; Both facilities offer amenities, including laundry rooms, full service kitchens, entertainment rooms, outdoor gardens and decks. Thanks to the partnership with Johns Hopkins Hospital, parking at the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House is also included.
Believe In Tomorrow recognizes the additional challenges military families face when their child is diagnosed with a life threatening illness and pioneered the concept, creation and development of The Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay, in Ocean City, Maryland, the first pediatric respite home in the United States dedicated to serving military families with critically ill children.
Dr. Timothy Porea, MD, CDR, MC, USN, Pediatric Residency Program Director for Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, who works closely with Believe In Tomorrow Founder and CEO, Brian Morrison elaborated, “Having a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness is stressful on any family. That stress is compounded for the military family. In this time of frequent deployments a child may be diagnosed while a parent is overseas. Or there could be the possibility of a deployment in the months after a diagnosis. Having a place to go and reconnect as a family away from the medical routines of clinics and hospitals is invaluable. Families can return re energized to continue any treatment they still have or to celebrate the end of therapy for their child's illness."
One family who stayed at the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay, in Ocean City, MD this summer, had such a great time, they created their own flyer, so other military families would know about the foundation’s respite program.
Thanks to funding from supporter, South Carolinian, Bill Amick and family, The Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls is the foundation’s second respite home, prioritizing military families with critically ill children. Situated in a gated community on a mountain-top, just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, the site features trout streams, hiking trails, scenic vistas, a community clubhouse and swimming pools.
To find out more about the programs Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation offers families battling a child’s life threatening illness, go to www.believeintomorrow.org
“I encourage any military family to go on a respite trip, even if it’s just for a weekend. It was so good for the family to be away from all those things and spend time together.”