Western Minnesota Legal Services

One Story

As they looked down at their son in his hospital bed at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Sandra and John Leininger had a lot on their mind. The Leiningers adopted Josiah three years ago when he was only three months old. Josiah, originally from Haiti, was in the United States on a medical visa and had multiple severe disabilities, including Dandy Walker Syndrome, a congenital brain malformation that causes developmental delays as well as other physical challenges.

“We didn’t know that Josiah was in our plan until we were at church one day and learned that this boy needed a home,” explains Sandra. “We were just drawn to help him.” The family is no stranger to raising children with special needs. They have six children of their own. Two still live at home, including their youngest son, Joshua, who has special needs due to complications during childbirth. They have also recently adopted a daughter from Haiti following the earthquake—Chelda is eight years old.

Sandra learned about Legal Aid through Rice Hospital. The Leiningers had legally adopted Josiah, but his medical visa had expired and he was waiting for his American citizenship papers to be finalized. Josiah had been fairly healthy until he came down with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (commonly known as RSV), a virus that causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages and is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. Josiah’s condition worsened and quickly led to a life-threatening situation and a growing mound of medical bills. Sandra needed help. Amanda Kotnik-Collins, a Legal Aid Outreach Coordinator who specializes in helping clients with medical assistance, came to the rescue. “In Josiah’s situation, it was best that the mother stay with her child, so I met them directly at the hospital,” commented Amanda.

Amanda helped Sandra and her family navigate the complex systems for accessing the medical assistance they needed. “It can cost up to $5,000 just to complete the forms for citizenship, and that doesn’t even address the additional forms for medical assistance,” explained Sandra. “Amanda personally handled our case for us, which was wonderful. She was positive, hopeful and very clear about the processes and the outcomes we should expect. With her help, I could focus on Josiah and helping him get better.”

For Amanda, the Leininger’s story struck a chord. “They have huge hearts to provide a home for children whose homelands and families have been destroyed. It is rewarding to be able to help people like the Leinengers, who give so much of themselves.”

Josiah’s life literally depended on the surgery and the financial assistance to fund it. But Amanda points out that, “Everyone has a story. Whether it’s like Josiah’s story, or it’s a young adult looking for health care, access to affordable medical care is a fundamental need for quality of life for my clients. Legal Aid provides an invaluable service and resource for people who really need the help.”

When you give a gift to support Legal Aid in Western Minnesota ( WMLS), you are helping to:

• Prevent homelessness
• Secure resources for basic needs
• Improve substandard housing
• Protect consumers
• Aid vicitms of domestic violence/sexual assault to have safer lives
• Help immigrants find better lives

Western Minnesota Legal Services advocates for the rights of disadvantaged people in Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, La qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties.

To learn more about Legal Aid and the people we serve, go to www.mylegalaid.org .