A Little More Room to Breathe

When three-year-old Lila was just 18 months old, her family lost their home during Hurricane Helene. Since then, they have been staying with relatives in McDowell County while working to rebuild their lives and regain their independence.

For Lila, that recovery comes with some additional challenges. Born prematurely at 30 weeks, she spent several weeks in the NICU and continues to experience developmental delays. She also has asthma and was recently diagnosed with autism, giving her family greater clarity about her needs while opening the door to new services and supports.

Both of Lila’s parents work and share her caregiving responsibilities while navigating medical appointments, therapies, and the everyday work of rebuilding after the storm. When several practical needs began piling up at once, Children’s Services was able to help.

Because Lila uses an air purifier to help manage her asthma, her family needed replacement filters. Their current home does not have central air conditioning, so a window A/C unit was also purchased to help create a cooler, more comfortable environment for her. And when the family’s vehicle needed a new battery, Children’s Services helped with that too, restoring reliable transportation for work, appointments, and the family’s daily needs.

A set of filters. A window air conditioner. A car battery.

They may seem like ordinary household purchases, but for one family still recovering from extraordinary circumstances, they offered something much bigger: a little more stability, a little more independence, and a little more room to breathe.