LIMA — Hospital bills and health problems have made it impossible for Kim’s family to have a Christmas this year.
Kim, 31, lives with eight of her family members in a home in Lima and her and her father’s medical problems have made money tight.
Kim and her father, Tim, have heart trouble and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and her father is in the hospital in Columbus because of his health problems. In addition to heart problems, Kim has asthma, diabetes and bone trouble.
Her mother, Sarah, and her brother, Josh, work, but not for much money, Kim said, and Josh has four children who live with the family part time, don’t have many toys and who won’t get any gifts this year.
The family didn’t have many gifts for the children last year either, Kim said.
Ashley, 6, and her brother John, also 6, are hoping for Lego blocks for Christmas this year. Ashley also wants a baby doll, and John wants a remote-control car, Kim said.
A baby doll is also what 3-year-old Kendra wants, along with big blocks. Dana, the eldest at 8 years old, is hoping for games like Yahtzee, Twister and Uno.
All the children need winter coats, gloves, hats and socks.
Ashley is a size 7/8 in girls and a medium in socks, John wears a 8/9 in clothes and an 11 or medium in socks, Kendra is a 5T and wears small socks and Dana wears a 10/12 in clothes and large kids’ socks.
“The kids don’t have that stuff,” Kim said. “They will be very glad to get that stuff this year for them because they were never able to get that stuff last year.”
Tim needs some men’s extra-large underwear, winter gloves, 36/32 jeans and razors and Sarah needs XL sweatpants, an electric heater, a lunch box and a blanket, Kim said.
Josh and his fiancée, Tina, need winter gloves, men’s 2X or 3X sweatpants and sweatshirts, men’s XL socks, bath towels, a blanket, a hat and women’s XL shirts and sweatpants.
Kim herself uses cups with straws because regular cups aggravate her COPD, she needs more of those and said the children like using them, too. She also needs 4X sweatpants and sweatshirts, a baby blanket, men’s socks size 12/16 and size 13 underwear.
The family is also hoping for a Christmas ham and turkey.
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