An inspirational message from a pioneer gift supplier has taken on an extra meaning for staff at the company.

Carpentree's What Illness Cannot Do, which hangs in the home of stricken young mom Stephanie Barnes, offers practical help as well as emotional support, for a portion of the proceeds from sales of the framed art piece, go to help meet the needs of 33-year-old Barnes and her family.

The daughter-in-law of longtime Carpentree employee Carrie Barnes, Stephanie has suffered a series of strokes, spinal meningitis, double pneumonia and paralysis, and faced death several times. Last January, in the midst of her illness Stephanie gave birth prematurely to her third child, Noah, who is now doing well at 1 year old.

The company's support is detailed at its Web site, where visitors are told that the effort was prompted by "the magnitude of Stephanie's illness and the incredible cost of her care, as well as a premature baby's medical bill."

Designed for people who need hope and encouragement, the 7-by-13-inch burnished copper-bronze framed art piece, retailing for $35, was introduced in January, "prior to our knowledge of Stephanie's illness," said Sherry Morris, marketing manager at Carpentree. It was modeled on a previous similar piece, What Cancer Cannot Do, which "is a good seller, and we felt that many people deal with chronic illnesses and might need encouragement, too."

Read the full report in the January 2011 edition of Inspirational Gift Mart magazine.

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