Meet Mary Beth Thomas: Co-founder of helloHOPE

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Beth Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Beth, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When our daughter’s doctor gave us her diagnosis, his first words were, “Don’t google it.” We quickly learned that waiting rooms were full of parents who, like us, were ready to learn all they could about how to best help and support their child, but the information lacked the emotional support component that is equally important. We knew that we wanted to curate a place online where parents facing a medical diagnosis could find hope and strength for the journey!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
helloHOPE is a non-profit that was birthed out of our experience with our daughter’s chronic GI diagnosis. While our experience was not unique, it brought us to our knees, in a sense, whenever we saw our daughter in pain or scared about her procedures. There aren’t adequate words to describe watching any child suffer, and our journey made us aware that 1 in 5 children in America have special healthcare needs.

We created helloHOPE to help families facing a childhood diagnosis fight for hope. Our website contains practical resources (like Q & A’s with doctors or ideas on how to connect with your child while in the doctor’s office), emotional and spiritual encouragement, and stories of other families who have walked through a childhood diagnosis with hope. Based in Atlanta, GA, we have the opportunity to partner with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to support their patient families through in-person events, as well.

Our goal is for everyone who interacts with helloHOPE to know that a diagnosis isn’t everything, you are not alone, and your story matters.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nothing beats Atlanta in the spring! We would have to visit Chattahoochee Coffee, go to a Braves game, and eat Jeni’s ice cream! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Plywood People and their community have been the wind in our sails over the last 5 years! Through Plywood we have met incredible people who are making the world a better place, and it is always inspiring to see others using their gifts and talents to that end!

Website: www.hellohope.com

Instagram: @sayhellotohope

Facebook: @sayhellotohope