Single Mother, 3-Year-old Son with Leukemia Touch Hearts

A North Haven single mother and her 3-year-old son who is battling leukemia touched the hearts of Rotarians this week.

The two dropped by unexpectedly to the North Haven Rotary Club's meeting Tuesday morning to thank members for a generous donation that will help pay for the child's hospital bills and other expenses. Robin Raino and her son, Logan, who also has Down's Syndrome, received a $1,000 donation from Rotary through the Kids for Kids organization.

Rotary raised a total of $5,000 by volunteering to assist with the food concessions, as well as some basic security detail, at the Kids for Kids Dance Competition in mid-April at North Haven High School. The only restriction under Rotary’s agreement with the Kids for Kids organization was that the money must be donated exclusively to children’s charities.

Since the club chose to make five $1,000 contributions in this manner, the charitable event's chairperson, Theresa Viele, invited Robin and Logan as they were on the list of eligible families.

Robin said that her son had just been released from Yale New Haven Hospital the previous evening due to a high fever on Friday. Logan, who suffers from acute lymphocytic leukemia, has been receiving chemotherapy since last fall. The active little Yankees’ fan is on the waiting list for a trip to Disney World through the Make a Wish Foundation.

Robin, who tries to balance work and childcare, had been employed part time by the Home Depot in town and said that she struggles to make ends meet. But, she said, her former husband's insurance takes care of most of the medical expenses. 

Having learned that the child's medical treatment, which is expected to provide a cure, will take another two and-a-half years, Viele pointed out that the club's gift would be particularly helpful for the mother's basic personal expenses, such as the costly parking fees at the hospital.

Robin expressed her sincere thanks as she received the check from Rotary President Rick DiNorscia.