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December’s Charity of the Month: Brain Tumor Foundation for Children

 

Brain Tumor Foundation for Children
E. Bruce Shaw volunteers for BTFC’s annual holiday party for children and their families.

When Briana was born she weighed 9 ½ pounds and appeared to be a healthy baby girl. Two months later, her parents were sitting in a hospital waiting room while their baby girl underwent a craniotomy to remove a tumor on her brain.

Briana is just one of the thousands of children that are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year. The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children (BTFC) is a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides social support, financial assistance and information to families of children with brain and spinal cord injuries.

The MDRT Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to BTFC to support the Butterfly Fund, which will be used to help families pay expenses such as rent, utility bills, car payments, travel costs and medical expenses not covered by health insurance. This grant was sponsored by E. Bruce Shaw, CLU, ChFC, a 26-year MDRT member from Marietta, Georgia.

Many parents of children with brain tumors are forced to leave their jobs due to extended time spent in the hospital, which leads to additional financial burdens. The Butterfly Fund was created to alleviate financial stress so that parents can focus on being there for their children as they undergo surgery and chemotherapy.

Today, Briana has made a remarkable recovery from her initial diagnosis. “We feel very fortunate that Briana has done so well,” explained Briana’s mother. “We know that we still have a long road ahead of us, but the future looks bright.”