The Forrest Spence Fund is an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 2007 in memory of Robert Forrest Spence. The Forrest Spence Fund begins with the story of Brittany and David Spence's first child, Robert Forrest Spence, born on September 10, 2007. Shortly after birth Forrest developed complications and was transported to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where he fought valiantly for life for 55 days before his illness overtook him. Amidst the daily struggles, the Spences were met with a compassion and love that gave them hope and helped them survive the most difficult journey of their lives. In light of this experience, the Forrest Spence Fund was founded. The mission of the Fund is to assist with the non-medical needs of critically or chronically ill children and their families throughout the Mid-South. The Forrest Spence Fund strives to accomplish its mission of assisting by focusing on 4 areas:
1. Meeting individual patient and family needs.
2. Working with institutions to better recognize and meet non-medical needs.
3. Connecting families with counseling and support groups and covering the cost of counseling for families with a chronically ill child and for bereaved families.
4. Providing grants to families demonstrating need. In honor of Forrest, the organization strives to support families dealing with similar difficult situations and to give back to regional children's hospitals like Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Children's Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga, Baptist Women's Memorial Hospital, and St. Jude Children's Hospital, where the amazing medical staff fights for thousands of children each year.
