Ambulanced to University Medical Enter in Tucson, Stacie was just seven months old when she underwent a liver transplant.

Without income or the time to work while attending to their sick child, the Chees found themselves at Ronald McDonald House.  For six months they lived there and enjoyed the support of other parents in similar situations, with food donated by local citizens and restaurants.  On the sliding scale that they could afford, the Chees had a place to rest their weary bodies after a long day with their daughter.

"It was like a home away from home --- it was comfortable and everyone made it so easy," recalls Gloria Chee.  "There were times we were so tired we couldn't do anything at the end of the day."

But after the transplant, the battle still wasn't over. Stacie continued to face health problems and the Chees, financially strapped and without a car, were moved into a satellite duplex nearer the hospital, where they stayed for a year.

The Chees eventually found a place of their own, and Gloria now works for a local company.  But Stacie must be cared for constantly and has been suffering from kidney failure.  Theirs is an uphill battle.  Stacie has to use a wheelchair and recently underwent more surgery.

Still, the Chees remain optimistic.

"Our little girl is a critically ill child, but we just deal with it day to day and paycheck to paycheck." says Gloria.

Adapted from Tucson Lifestyle
December 1998
Portrait Photos by David Fox