By Chelsea P. Gladden
Co-workers Christian and Bobbi first bonded over their mutual tragedies. Bobbi had lost her father unexpectedly and Christian had survived a car crash that left his wife and 7-month-old daughter dead and his three-year-old son with brain damage. Having one another during their grief proved invaluable.
Eventually, the two fell in love and were married. Bobbi started working part time from home to help care for her stepson Austin who, in addition to brain damage, had autism. The Snows soon wanted to add to their family and were given the gift of their son Josh. It wasn’t long after his birth that they were then pregnant with Blake.
During this second pregnancy in 2006, the family was told that Josh had autism. While the news is devastating for any parent, they were ready to do all that it takes to get Josh the treatment he would need.
While tending to sessions for both sons, their third was eventually also diagnosed. Their strength of character kept them strong as they moved forward with the cards they were dealt.
Working closely with ABA, a form of therapy that has helped children overcome Autism, the future looked bright and the two younger boys were looking likely to enroll in kindergarten and live Autistic free lives.
However, in March, the Regional Center, which funds children with disabilities, inexplicably stopped covering treatment for Josh. Bobbi and Christian have been faced with an $11,000 a month bill in order to continue the treatment– which stands a much better chance the earlier age its received — that has shown vast promise for curing Josh.
Clearly, saving for the unknown is always a good idea but no family could ever anticipate a sudden $11,000 a month bill that could change the course of their son’s life. I chose to write about it because I had just received a moving email from Christian describing their plight. Bobbi and Christian are one of the nicest couples I have ever met and Bobbi is my amazing sister-in-law’s sister.
Their courageousness in the face of adversity has reminded me that there’s more to saving up for a new car, house or paying off the credit card debt, but instead to set aside in my Geezeo budget a fund to contribute to people in need of services you can’t put a price on.
Want to join the discussion on savings? Visit It’s It’s Time to Budget and Couples & Money. To learn more about the Snow family, visit: http://www.fightagainstautism.com
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