Grateful for Love, Support and Sense of Community

Luke in the hospital

Luke in the hospital

In July of 2019, my husband, Spenser, and I welcomed the perfect addition to our growing family. Luke was a perfectly healthy baby boy who instantly added so much joy to our lives. Things changed, however, when Luke was just 10 days old because his heart failed. Sometime in Luke’s very short, normal life, he contracted a common virus, the enterovirus. It should have caused simple cold symptoms but instead it attacked his heart, causing viral myocarditis. We were rushed from the pediatrician’s office with seemingly minor symptoms of poor feeding and a change in breathing to the emergency room.

As a pediatric oncology nurse, I have been with parents as they receive devastating news about their children. I’ve seen firsthand the shock on their faces as they look over at their child in a hospital bed who just received a difficult diagnosis, but I had never expected to be in shoes similar to theirs. And I can attest to the fact that devastating doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling that you get when you are told your baby is sick.

Luke

Luke, post-treatment

In the emergency room our lives changed forever as it was determined that Luke’s heart was not functioning properly and emergency transport to MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina), in Charleston, was arranged. By the time Luke arrived at MUSC, he was fighting for his life. We were later told that Luke’s heart function was estimated to be at 9 percent and that anything less than 12 percent is incompatible with life.

The virus caused so much damage to Luke’s heart that he had to be put on a life support machine, called ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). While on ECMO, Luke’s heart was able to rest so that it could try to recover. However, despite the efforts of every doctor and nurse that crossed Luke’s path, he was in heart failure and was quickly placed at the top of the heart transplant list.

Luke smiling

Luke, happy at home

After 12.5 days on life support, Luke decided to show everyone just how strong he was, and his heart started to show the smallest signs of improvement. And after 22 days, we were finally able to hold him again.

Luke’s heart continued to make small improvements, and he was discharged home with a special IV line for medications. After a few months, Luke’s IV line was removed, he had surgery to close a hole in his heart and he had a feeding tube to help with his weight gain.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston was our “home-away-from-home” for 49 days. The generous group of volunteers and donors that help run the House provided a place for us to shower and sleep, meals to eat and a place to retreat to when we needed a quiet place to think. And most importantly, RMHC Charleston provided a place where we could converse with other families who were going through scary situations just like we were. The other families helped us realize we weren’t in this alone and we not only had our family and friends back home supporting us, but we also had a whole local community that was ready to help fight and pray for our baby boy.

The Fossell Family

Karoline, Spenser and Luke

Today, Luke is still considered to be in heart failure and is still on the heart transplant list, but he is stable on the seven medications he takes every day.

—Karoline Fossell

Your future gift ensures Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston can continue giving families a feeling of community while their children receive the care they need.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to RMHC Charleston or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to RMHC Charleston as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to RMHC Charleston as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and RMHC Charleston where you agree to make a gift to RMHC Charleston and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
Personal Estate Planning Kit Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the materials for planning your estate.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address

eBrochure Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the brochure.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address