Archives > Southlake Times > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Mother strives to make Phillip’s Wish a reality
By CHRIS TAYLOR
What began as a few simple words to sooth a worried boy became a lifetime cause for one woman.
Cyndi Bunch was talking to her 9-year-old son, Phillip, when he asked if his father, also named Phillip was warm. The senior Phillip had struggled with paranoid schizophrenia for about five years and Bunch and her son often had to drive around looking for him as he began a life on the streets.
So when little Phillip asked, “Mommy, is daddy warm?” he already had an idea of the conditions that his father was living in.
“It was Phillip’s idea. After he asked me that question he just didn’t stop thinking about it. He would ask me everyday if we could buy blankets for those people who weren’t warm. He even took the money out of his piggy bank to help,” Cyndi, Phillip’s mother and founder of Phillip’s Wish, said.
About five years ago, Cyndi’s husband Phillip started suffering from the effects of his condition, and that is when life took a dramatic turn for Bunch and her son.
“I thought he was on drugs. He would act so strangely. We had a 5-bedroom house with three baths and a pool in the back yard. It was the American dream,” she said.
Rather than wallow in her depression, Bunch fought back. She fought the system to make sure that her husband got treatment instead of being thrown in jail.
And, with little Phillip’s help, she fought to make a difference in the lives of the homeless.
Phillip’s Wish is dedicated to providing blankets to the homeless.
“This is what I’m going to do forever,” she said.
The first year, 200 blankets were collected. The next year, Bunch set a goal of 5,000 blankets which they surpassed with young Phillip’s appearance on a television show called “Kid’s Corner” and the radio station the Twister.
This year, the goal is 10,000 blankets.
“We take blankets, gloves, hats, socks, mittens and pillows. We don’t take cash, and because these people don’t have closets, we don’t take clothes,” she said.
Phillip’s Wish, in its third year, is taking donations at several locations. All Tom Thumb grocery stores in Tarrant County are accepting donations, and so are several area high schools.
Bunch and her son are not content to just collect these items, though; they get out and deliver them, also.
Bunch tells of going out at 11 p.m. on Christmas night hand-delivering the blankets to homeless. Phillip has gotten into the act as well.
“One night, as we were handing out blankets, I noticed that Phillip was not wearing his brand new hat he had gotten as a Christmas gift. When I asked him what happened to it, he said, ‘I gave it to a man because his ears were cold.’ He’s just like that. There’s something special about him,” she said.
Phillip has not seen his father in about three years.
“I don’t want him to see him like that. There’s no chance for recovery. He doesn’t even know who I am any more,” she said.
Bunch’s husband did eventually get treatment in a state facility, but knows he will never get any better. She still sends money to him every month just for the essentials he needs at the facility.
When asked why she devotes the 50 hour weeks of Phillip’s Wish along with her 40 hour work weeks, and raising a 9-year-old, she says, “Because of my son.”
Bunch’s fear is that Phillip might follow in his father’s footsteps.
Judy Keith, professor of Psychology at Tarrant County College, says that while schizophrenia is hereditary, a loving environment will lower the risks substantially.
“Schizophrenia is a disconnect from reality. The patients are fine if they take their medications, but that is the biggest problem,” Keith said. Because the medications have some side effects, some sufferers are discouraged from taking them. Others will take them until they feel better then stop, she said. Schizophrenia is a disease that can be controlled, but not cured, which is why medications must be taken, she said.
Bunch said she will continue to hand out blankets, talk to students about the dangers of schizophrenia and will continue to fight for better treatment.
“We can’t seem to deal with them, but I fight the system,” she said.
Blanket Drop Off locations
Keller High School
Flower Mound high School
Lewisville High School
Haltom High School
Richland High School
Central High School in Keller
Colleyville Heritage
Southlake Carroll High School
Grapevine High School
All Tom Thumb stores in Tarrant County
Tom Thumb in Flower Mound
Mike Bowman’s Century 21
Drop Off begins Nov. 1
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
