One Way Every Day: January 9 - Inheritance of Hope

Imagine finding out you have a terminal illness. Now imagine you are a young mother with 3 young children at home. What would you do? Kristen Milligan was faced with just this situation and how she handled it is truly inspiring!

After being diagnosed with a rare terminal illness in 2003, Kristen Milligan searched for children’s literature to help her children -- Ashlea (then four years old), Luke (two), and Rebecca (seven months). Unable to find anything that met their needs, she decided to write her own book. The result was A Train’s Rust, A Toy Maker’s Love, the story of a train family whose mother begins to rust, prompting questions of the toy maker about what will happen next. Three surgeries, twenty-two months of chemotherapy, and two books later, Kristen is going strong.

Kristen and her husband, Deric, expanded the concept in May 2007 by founding Inheritance of Hope, a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity with the vision that "Every Family Deserves a Legacy."® The organization began selling Kristen's books, and in August 2008 Inheritance of Hope hosted its first all-expenses-paid Legacy Retreat in Lake George, New York.

The mission of Inheritance of Hope is to improve well-being in the lives of children and families with a parent diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. They achieve this mission by providing superior books and literature, life-changing family retreats, and individual and group ongoing support – spiritually, emotionally, and financially. Their products and services provide direct benefits for the children and a proactive, therapeutic focus for the parent.

Inheritance of Hope's Legacy Retreat has a twofold vision:

First, families with children under 18 with a parent who has a life-threatening illness should have a worry-free, cost-free, fun vacation. For this reason, they take care of all the planning and all the costs (including travel expenses), and families have plenty of time to spend alone building precious memories.

Second, families will have the opportunity to interact with other families who understand the challenges of their situation. Inheritance of Hope recognizes that living with a life-threatening illness can be an isolating experience, so each Legacy Retreat builds a community of support that can be maintained long after the event through online support communities. Licensed counselors are available throughout each Retreat.

Inheritance of Hope believes that preparing for the death of a parent while they are living will yield significant long-term benefits for children and loved ones, thereby minimizing the potentially catastrophic impact. Moving forward, Inheritance of Hope continues to expand its offerings to young families facing the life-threatening illness of a parent.

Get Involved:

Donate to Inheritance of Hope.

Volunteer at an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat.

Shop at the Inheritance of Hope online store.