Welcome to Avens Place!

Our Story

AVENS PLACE story starts with the inspiration of a little boy and a mans desire to see that inspiration come true.

The little boys name was Aven. Aven had a strong desire to help other families and children like himself in a truly personal way. That desire was helping other children and their families that encountered the same problems his family came across. Aven had brain tumors and knew that it was terminal. Avens heart was so big that he wanted to help everyone he could, but for him, enough could not be done.

The founder of AVENS PLACE also had a desire to reach out and help other kids in a special way that no one else had before. That man is Steve Lirette. His desire was to reach out to these families in a personal, loving, and giving way, much as a brother and sister would care for each other. This is where the story of AVENS PLACE began.

Our Message

Welcome to AVENS PLACE, where we believe devoting your time with your child in a life threatening or terminal situation is the most important thing you can do.

During this time, your focus should be on the one that desires and requires your full attention. We wish to help you so you don't have to worry about making ends meet or how you are going to get through the day. We want to help alleviate some of the stress and worries of everyday life. Your child needs you during these times as much as you need them. Our desire is to help you hold on to those moments as much as possible. Our genuine wish is to help you during this difficult time in your life.

How Avens Place Works

AVENS PLACE is very simple. Your family can go to the "Support" tab at the top of the page and click on the "Support Request Information" link and follow the information provided. With a little information, we will do the best we can to fulfill your request. We are located in the St. Louis, Missouri, area and the more support we have the further we can reach. Our goal is to provide help to the entire continental United States. We will find the help you need in your local area if we cannot provide it ourselves. This is why donations are so important. The more donations we receive the further we can reach.

Why Avens Place?

So many families deal with so many challenges, obstacles, and struggles when caring for a terminally ill child. All effort, hope and faith is devoted to that child. There's not much room left for any thing else. But life still goes on. For these families life has come to a stand still. We are here to help them tackle the things they might need help with to keep up with life.

Imagine life as a bunch of marbles that you are responsible for and care for on a flat table. There is one big marble that represents your family. That marble is your most important marble and you will have to do anything to protect it. There are another 99 marbles that you have to care for also but take a lot less attention.

One day your big marble gets cracked and it takes all your time to kept that marble from moving, bumping into another marble, chipping away... In the mean time the other 99 marbles are slowly rolling off t

he table and you can't stop them or your big marble will be lost. Avens Place will help you keep you keep your marbles together.