Jake’s Help From Heaven
161 Circular St.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
(518) 306-5665
Heather Straughter
heather@jakeshelpfromheaven.org
www.jakeshelpfromheaven.com
Jake’s Help From Heaven is a Saratoga Springs based non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting individuals with multiple medical challenges and disabilities. Countless challenges occur in raising medically fragile, special needs children. The organization’s goal is to assist children and their families affected by debilitating illnesses, including neurological impairments, mitochondrial and genetic disorders, and pediatric orthopedic problems.
Its primary objectives are to provide grants and other financial assistance to medically fragile special needs individuals and their families to offset the costs of necessary or convenient equipment, transportation to and from treatment centers, temporary lodging near the place of treatment, patient and family member counseling, and other similar costs. The foundation also supports research, whether it be historical, scientific or some other medium, regarding rare disorders. For families requiring adaptive equipment, Jake’s Help From Heaven provides a storeroom and exchange program.
A mother of a client served by the organization said, “JHFH has been such a wonderful resource in our community for families like ours by helping to cover some of the extra special things kids like Ez need to help them participate, grow, thrive, and learn.”
The foundation is named in memory of Jake Alexander Straughter who earned his angel wings on December 8, 2010. Jake was born a healthy, vibrant baby boy on May 4, 2006. He suffered a seizure at eight months and this began his very complicated medical journey. While his family never received an official diagnosis for Jake’s illness, at the time of his death it was thought that he had a type of leukodystrophy, a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain. Through his short life, Jake battled epilepsy, liver disease, osteopenia, femur fractures, hip dislocation and more. He faced each hurdle with strength and courage and taught those around him how to persevere. Through this foundation, the lessons learned from Jake will be passed on to others as support and help is provided to those in need.