Chicago Attorney Meets 'Wish List' for Widower, Kids Longing for Mom

Attorney Robbie Fakhouri has built his career helping victims, many of whom suffered from crimes or from reckless disregard for others. Always, his aim is to make the person or family whole again.

When he engineered his first holiday drive to help the homeless, Fakhouri was nurturing any stranger in need of shelter, food and work. The annual drive continues.

This holiday season Fakhouri added a new concept: “Adopt a Family” to answer a “family in need’s wish list.”

Through an Instagram solicitation, the 33-year old welcomed all of Chicagoland to present a family in need via video response. After 7,000 views, stories poured in over the Internet and led to an introduction to the Kristofer family in St. Charles, chosen from nearly 200 other worthy families.

At this time last year, the Kristofer family was entering the holidays dreading a December 22nd doctor’s appointment for Lara Macino Kristofer, a wife, mother of four and teacher of many.

A massive growth was discovered and removed -- Lara was diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer, which led to an eighth-month journey in which the young mother remained “feisty” and fought for her life while attempting to mask her pain and fears. She died August 28, 2023.

The passage cast a pall over her entire extended family and an emotionally devastated husband Jon, a 46-year old liberal arts high school teacher, and their school-age children: Charlie, Toni, Enzo and Gianni.

“That December 22nd date shifted everything in our families,” said Kristina, Jon’s sister, who responded to the “Adopt a Family” solicitation sharing her grief and empathy for her brother and the children, who attended the same school in which their mother taught in Geneva, IL.

Kristina provided bedside care for her sister-in-law during the family’s most challenging summer months.

“It was a turbulent eight months and Lara fought and even got feisty with her doctors as she battled,” said Kristina. “Her humility was her great strength.”

When Fakhouri arrived last Thursday “to surprise” the family with wish list items gloriously wrapped in pretty papers, he also brought some of his family members and a welcome distraction, Henry, a seven-year-old English Bulldog.

“It was a lighthearted moment for sure,” said Kristina. “We are all dog lovers so we were very excited, especially my niece.”

When the dog went missing briefly, he was found in the Kristofer home.

"The whole experience was lovely,” said Kristina speaking on behalf of the family. “For everyone it was a meaningful moment and love exchange.“

“I was so moved,” said Fakhouri, who thanked the Kristofer family for giving “our staff the opportunity to make an impact.”