Parents of children with special needs create their own world of happiness and believe in things that others cannot yet see.” Sometimes the things we can’t change end up changing us......"
Tim Seifert
Sr. Volunteer
with a birth defect in the United States.
born in the United States each year.
The Laura Smile Foundation came to life because of the Founders personal experience. Becoming the parent of a chronically ill child, changed they entire perspective on life on medical care and the unexpected struggles that came with caring for their child.
Approximately 15% of the US children are born with medical complexities. For many of them, the hospital visit is routine. They know when they go in, but they never know if, when they will come out…
The medical expenses to care for these children account for about one-third of total U.S. health care spending dollars for all children living in the U.S., or about US$100 billion a year.
Managing a child’s treatment and maintaining her or his quality of life is often challenging and costly for parents who have a critical role that directly affects their child’s quality of life.
Parents are often the only consistent person managing a child’s complex medical condition. Therefore, a child’s quality of life is largely dependent upon their parent’s advocacy efforts.
Our mission is to help the children and the families who do not have the financial means or the emotional support they need, to attend to their other responsibilities, such as work and parenting other children.
Temporary Housing
Home Care Support
Legal Assistance & Advocacy
Counseling
Medical Care co-ordination
LAURA'S STORY
Laura was a beautiful little girl born June 6 1998 with Tetralogy of Fallot, a severe heart defect. At eight month old she stopped breathing long enough to suffer neurological damages. Laura went trough several lung and heart surgeries, she was given poor life expectancy and yet Laura fought trough every challenges that was put in front of her.
Laura had a beautiful smile who touched everyone! She was the inspiration of love and hope in a world most of us do not believe in anymore. Every day for 16 ½ years, you could see Laura taking a stroll with her parents or her nurse around the neighborhood in her very cool custom made wheelchair-stroller.
Every one knew her and waved a joyous “Hi Laura !” when she was passing by. Often people would stop to talk to her. She would look at them with her deep hazel eyes and long eyelashes and give back that killer smile. Though she did not speak, she spoke the language of Love. Her energy was so beautiful and powerful, she was coming through without words. She was the happiest little girl! For most people it is hard to believe under those circumstances, but she really was. She was deeply loved and she loved us back. She was “the wind beneath our wings”. She gave us strength, she taught us patience and determination.
Laura passed away October 24, 2014 at age 16 from Pulmonary Hypertension, a side effect of multiple cardiac surgeries. We miss her every day…. Laura loved listening to music, watching children play, cuddle with her older brother Alex and her dog Marley.
The Foundation is her legacy. We want to put a smile on every sick child…
Help us do it!
Share Your Story
It is our hope to make you smile
It was so hard to watch these babies—they would have tremor; they'er inconsolable. And we couldn't it.
Daryl Mitchell
Charity Organizer
It was so hard to watch these babies—they would have tremor; they'er inconsolable. And we couldn't it.
Byran Klien
Head Of Department
