our STORY
This nonprofit organization was created in memory of my incredible son, Harper Jackson Lee Goldsby. He was born on July 14, 2010. At ten days old he was diagnosed with a rare and severe form of Epilepsy called Ohtahara Syndrome. Harper fought each day of his life to overcome the significant complications that accompanied his progressive illness. Harper passed peacefully in his sleep on December 4, 2023. Despite his many challenges, he lead a life full of strength, resiliency, love, and joy. He was a Warrior in every sense of the word. He will forever remain in my heart and I will celebrate him all the days of my life.
Due to the severity of my son’s illness, it was an honor to be his advocate every day of his life. Harper could not speak, could not walk, and could not eat by mouth. He required me to be his voice with every detail of his daily life from his medical needs to his educational needs. I had big dreams for my son to reach his full potential despite the debilitating complications of his disease. I never let Ohtahara syndrome define my son and always believed he deserved the absolute best that life had to offer.
For the past year and a half, I have been privileged to serve our community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, commonly referred to as a CASA, for children in foster care in Jackson County. I feel fulfilled learning about each child on my caseload and being their advocate in the courtroom while they spend time in foster care. It’s through this experience that I’ve learned about the significant lack of funding for the services and resources each child needs to be successful while in their foster homes. This is a severe detriment to our community’s youth. Most children enter the foster care system without private insurance. Many only have medicaid to provide for their various needs. These needs can be very complicated, very expensive, and very often not covered by their insurance plan. A child’s needs can be court ordered and can also be outlined in their IEP or 504 plans at school but if the funding isn’t available, the need cannot be met. Many times the child will go without or sometimes a foster parent will have to cover the exorbitant cost out of pocket which is a financial strain on the entire household.
Being in foster care can be incredibly challenging and frightening at times. These children have been removed from their homes, and while in their best interests, it creates uncertainty and anxiety for some. Each child experiencing this is a Warrior in their own right. Harper’s fund is dedicated to making this journey as comfortable as possible by helping to provide each child with the services and the resources they need in order to succeed during this time in their young lives.
When a request is made for services through Harper’s Warrior Fund, I’m personally dedicated to ensuring that each child is served to the fullest extent possible in order to achieve success. Every child deserves a chance to have the resources and the services that they need while in foster care so that they can hopefully have a bright future ahead. In my son Harper’s name, I am privileged to serve our Kansas City youth in foster care.
Thank you for reading our story and thank you for your support.
Love,
Candace
