The foundation assists families in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region into New Jersey and Delaware. The majority of requests come from social workers at Children’s hospitals in these areas. In the state of Pennsylvania, all children with a catastrophic illness, such as cancer, are covered 100 % for all their medical needs. The foundation picks up other expenses families are struggling with during the course of their children’s illness. Many of the requests we fulfill are often to help cover the cost of rent or mortgage payments, gas, electric and oil bills, transportation, and telephone services. On occasion Foundation also receives and fulfilsl requests for help with funeral services and other financial struggles. Many times, these requests are made without the family knowing that Foundation is helping. This is done so that the families don’t have to worry any more than they already are. It is Foundations goal to help alleviate any added stress and to give the families some peace of mind.

Currently, the foundation will assist families with their financial struggles with up to $500.00 per year. It is Foundations goal to one day not have any limit set! Foundation wants to be able to say to the families, if you are unable to work so that you can give your child the care and attention they desperately need, we will be there financially to help you through. Foundation will always be a local organization giving back to our own community. With your help, Kisses For Kyle Foundation will continue to grow and one day soon its goal will be met. At that moment, the families Foundation assists will have one less thing to worry about. They will be able to focus on the one very most important thing in the world, the care and love of their child.

Kyle was born on March 15th, 1996. He was such a beautiful and healthy child who loved life. It was clear that Kyle was very advanced for his age. By four months, he was already saying Mamma and Dada. He always had this need to know everything going on around his wonderful little world. He had this absolute wonderful fascination for life.

Kyle never liked to be alone. He was always so content as long as his Mamma or Daddy was there in the room with him. The only way to get him to fall asleep would be either to have him fall asleep on one of us or to trick him. Eventually he would fall asleep in the cutest ways. We have this precious picture of him sleeping while he was trying to eat his lunch sitting up in his high chair. Another time, he was standing up and leaning on the sofa with one leg up and one leg down. It was as if he had this built in radar. He would sleep as long as one of us was with him, but as soon as we would leave the room, his deep dark eyes would pop open and we would have to start the process all over again. How we long for those many days of sleep deprivation.

As Kyle’s parents, we knew how very handsome and beautiful he was. You would think we were biased, but so many people always approached us to let us know how very beautiful and special he was. He had this glow to him that we truly believe radiated from the inside out. He loved attention and he sure got it, from us and everyone who was blessed to have him in their lives, if only for a short while.

On February 20th, 1998, Kyle was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He fought the bravest fight we have ever seen. He endured needles, surgery, endless bone marrow aspirations and spinal taps, a massive amount of blood and platelet transfusions, and an enormous amount of chemotherapy no one should ever be forced to endure. All this in the hopes to save his precious little life. The Leukemia caused his little body to ache, his immune system to become diminished, many areas on his body to bruise and hemorrhage, and become very lethargic due to Anemia. The treatment was to be for a minimum of three years and two months which would have been finally ending this upcoming summer.

Everything Kyle was used to doing on a daily basis was stripped away from him, including playing with all his friends, diving into the ball pits which he adored so much, going to Chuck E Cheese and Gymboree, and so much more with so many hopes that the treatment would "cure" him and he would be blessed to go back to his normal routine that he deserved so much. Although it must be extremely difficult for a two year old to have any conception of what was going on with his little life, Kyle did such an amazing job adapting to his new life. Of course every time we would pass a similar place to him, he would point and ask to go, sometimes to the mall to go on his beloved choo-choo train, other times to Chuck E. Cheese. He would try and trick us saying he wanted to go to eat Chuck E. Cheese Pizza. What a beautiful, bright, loving child, with his entire life ahead of him.....all this taken away from such a very devastating disease. Throughout his eight month valiant battle, Kyle managed to keep his beautiful smile, his wonderful and very unique sense of humor, and his most adorable way of doing everything to put a smile on everyone's faces he touched.

Kyle lost his battle to Leukemia on October 15th, 1998 at the tender age of two years and seven months. All that life promised him had come to an end on this day. No one should ever be forced to endure all the disease and horror that came Kyle's way. Such a beautiful and young life taken away by total destruction. Leukemia took Kyle's body, but it will never destroy Kyle's beautiful soul, his soaring spirit and a million wonderful memories we are blessed to hold dear to our hearts.

All contents related to Kisses For Kyle Foundation are posted with permission from Foundation itself and its President, Sharon Snyder.