George Mark Children's House Gets National Attention

"It's hard every day to watch a piece of your child go away," says Tremica Thompson as she contemplates her 15-year-old son's condition. Charles Daniel — once a bright, smiling teenager — is dying from brain cancer. 

The George Mark Children's House gives Daniel's family a place to spend his last few days together. The house, set on a serene campus in San Leandro, comprises eight private bedrooms, each with an extra bed for caregivers. Here, Daniel's mother, father and four siblings can gather at his bedside in peace and comfort, showering him with love and supporting one another through this traumatic time.

Charles Daniel's final hours are captured in CNN's documentary short, The Gift of Charles. The film showcases the George Mark Children's House, which was the first children's hospice in the nation when it opened in 2004, co-founded by Piedmont's Kathy Hull. (Several other Piedmont residents are strong supporters of George Mark, including Gala Committee members Jennifer Fox and Debbi DiMaggio.)

Hull emphasizes that George Mark is a place to celebrate child's life, not just mourn. She named the facility after two of her brothers — George and Mark — who had both died by the time she was 25. The experience led her to a career in psychology, helping families deal with grief.

All families stay for free at George Mark and receive support from a network of professionals, including counselors, social workers, and even tutors who help siblings of the terminally ill catch up on their homework. The non-profit organization is funded mainly by individual donations, with volunteers in the kitchen. 

The CNN feature prompted more than 500 comments online from supporters and families who have stayed at the facility, and according to the George Mark House newsletter, "the response — nationally and internationally — has been overwhelming."

Donations to the George Mark Children's House can be made online.

Have you experienced the George Mark Children's House? Share your story in the comments below.