His Grace Foundation

His Grace Foundation (HGF) provides physical, emotional and financial support to the patients and families in the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMTU) unit of Texas Children's Hospital (TCH). HGF was founded in 1997 by John and Erin Kiltz, whose daughter Gracie was a patient at TCH. The BMTU, which has 15 beds, treats the "sickest of the sick” and is considered, by the medical professionals who oversee the care and treatment of these children, as the last hope for their healing. Typically, each year HGF serves 150 to 160 families whose children suffer from such life-threatening diseases as leukemia, neuroblastoma, SCIDS, sickle cell anemia, rare blood diseases, brain tumors and other types of cancer. The families whose children are receiving treatment in the BMTU are under enormous strain. The BMTU has strict guidelines with regard to extended family and visitor access due to the fragile condition of patients prior to and after transplant, and as a result, BMTU families are quite isolated for their child’s stay, which is at least four to six weeks, oftentimes longer. Without the support of extended family members and friends to help with daily needs, simply running errands or securing food for themselves can become a logistical struggle. Designed to be “grace in the need of the moment,” HGF has steadily grown, increasing in services, volunteers and impact. HGF provides each new patient with a gift basket designed specifically for him or her, as well as necessities for family members, free parking for patient families, several monthly catered meals and weekly shopping. Additional services include massage therapy, emergency funding, holiday and birthday celebrations and an arts in medicine program. In the last several years, the foundation has expanded to provide three homes for outpatient temporary housing while families are required to maintain close proximity to the hospital.