Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Miracle Flights provides free commercial airline tickets to pediatric patients ages 17 and under in need of life-changing medical care far from home. Families must meet certain requirements and apply online using the online application for requesting each flight.
The organization also provides flights for service dog retrieval and/or training. Miracle Flights’ service dog program is open to all individuals who need help retrieving/training their service dog.
For questions, please contact Miracle Flights by calling (800) 359-1711 or emailing communications@miracleflights.org.
The MISS Foundation provides support for families struggling with traumatic grief. Its website provides quick access to counseling resources, advocacy information, research on traumatic grief, education for healthcare providers and community members, and support services for those grieving the death or impending death of a child.
The foundation also offers Family Support Packets with information and resources for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC)
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) provides free, easy to understand resources for people living with traumatic brain (TBI), spinal cord (SCI) and burn injuries and their supporters. The research-based resources aim to improve rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life for people living with SCI, TBI, and burn injuries. MSKTC resources are available in a variety of formats including printable PDF documents, videos and slideshows.
The MSKTC website features a wide range user-friendly resources divided by topic:
For questions, please call (202) 403-5600/TTY: (877) 334-3499 or email msktc@air.org.
Mother’s Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes provides safe, pasteurized donor human milk to premature and critically ill babies.
Milk Bank WGL also supports moms who donate milk after loss and distributes reduced-cost or free donor milk to chronically ill middle and low-income children.
This non-profit organization serves over 75 hospitals and hundreds of families throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. Use the locator tool to find a Milk Depot near you.
MPHI Center for Precision Public Health
The MPHI Center for Precision Public Health provides educational opportunities for clinicians, public health professionals, community organizations and families. The center focuses on improving the health and well-being of all through research, supporting data-driven initiatives, facilitating community-led program development, and providing technical assistance.
MPHI also provides free CME and CE Modules for families and professionals. Topics include:
- Improving care for developmental disabilities and dysmorphic features
- Patient-centered newborn screening communication
- Decoding genetic test reports for frontline clinicians
Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) Family Support Group is a non-profit, mostly volunteer-run organization serving families and professionals worldwide. It provides:
- Support for families affected by MSUD
- Education about the condition and management
- Research
- Advocacy
For questions, please fill out the online form on MSUD Family Support Group’s website.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) provides comprehensive information and resources to help with understanding, managing and living day-to-day with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases.
MDA programs and resources include:
- The MDA Resource Center providing one-on-one support by phone or email for individuals and families looking for resources, activities and more
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Grant Program
- Nationwide summer camps
- Resources for caregivers
- Community education and services
My Heart Visit is a program from Mended Hearts that allows heart patients and their families to connect with trained volunteers who are patients themselves, a parent of a child with a heart condition or a caregiver of a loved one with heart disease.
You can connect with someone by phone, text, email or video. It includes the Heartline Hotline at (844) 432-7887 (1-844-HEART87).
Northern Illinois Food Bank has launched My Pantry Express, an online source for groceries. The program allows families in need of food assistance to choose specific grocery items and pick them up at a preferred participating location.
Pickup locations are available in the following counties: DeKalb, DuPage, Lake, Will, Winnebago.
myFace is a nonprofit organization that provides individuals and families affected by cleft and other craniofacial differences access to personal stories, education and support.
Resources include:
- Information on craniofacial conditions
- Parent resources
- Virtual craniofacial support groups and networking opportunities
- Educational webinars and podcasts
- Home Away From Home family apartments to use during medical care
For questions, please contact myFace at (917) 720-4701 or info@myface.org.
