It seemed like a good idea last year.

After finding what seemed to be a perfect one-story house for their family in Brookline, Pam and Robert Fischer refinanced their existing mortgage to pull out equity and cash.

Some went toward a down payment. The rest? Swallowed by repairs aimed at enticing a buyer for a South Side house with too many rooms, too many flights of stairs and too many expenses for a family coping with a father's chronic illness.

Only the sale of the Brookline house fell through. The "For Sale'' sign on the Fischers' South Side house has drawn a few visitors but no buyer since it went up in January.

A year later, the Fischers are left with a bumped-up $1,300 monthly mortgage payment that is increasingly tough to meet on Pam's salary as a Wal-Mart cashier and Robert's as a Goodwill cleaning crew supervisor. What little money is left gets juggled between groceries, medical and utility bills, and $540 each month for car insurance so that Pam and Robert can get to work -- she during the day, he at night.

For weeks, there hasn't been enough left to replace the younger children's sneakers or the worn shoes on Robert's aching feet. Pam takes overtime shifts when she can get them, but finds that paying baby sitters eats up much of what she earns.

Sprigs of mistletoe and festive ornaments dangle from doorframes and fireplace mantels throughout the Fischers' three-story white house this holiday season. But to make sure they'll have something new -- "or new to them'' -- to slip under the Christmas tree for their two younger children, Pam and Robert reluctantly sought help this year with gifts and a holiday meal.

"I hate to ask anyone for anything. We generally try to do it ourselves," said Pam, 42, clasping her hands into a white-knuckled ball during a chat earlier this month around her dining-room table.

"It's tough. But it's also good to know that there are places out there that will help you.''

Pam's older daughter, Danielle Marmarosa, 19, lives in Oakland. But the couple's daughter, Catherine, 11, and son, Robert Jr., 9, are still at home, and Robert Jr. believes that Santa Claus will visit on Christmas Eve and leave a remote-controlled car, perhaps, or a cap gun. Their mom and dad have managed to squirrel away a few items of clothing, but are still hoping to find a toy or two and poster paint for Robert Jr.

"Do I pay the gas bill, or buy things for my children for Christmas?" said Pam. "I'm going to let him keep [believing in Santa] for as long as I can. They don't expect much."

The Fischer children know about their family's stressed finances and their father's health problems. In 1990, Robert Sr. lost part of a foot when it became caught in an elevator in a warehouse accident. Since then, he's developed carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists and wears a brace on his left arm.

Three years ago, he was diagnosed with Grave's disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes overactivity of the thyroid gland. For Robert, now 43, the disease has meant ongoing problems with his heart, blood pressure and eyes.

"My health is just going," he said. "Some days I feel pretty good. Some days ... I get [the children] off to school and then just sit in the chair."

His most recent trip to a hospital, last month, cut further into the family's finances to cover co-payments, Pam said. He falls frequently, and finds it difficult to negotiate so many stairs in a three-story home and to keep up with Robert Jr., who zips from room to room when he's not in school.

That's why the Fischers were trying to move to the ranch-style house in Brookline. In the coming year, they're still hoping to move to a similar home where their finances and Robert's health can rebound.

"When we get back on our feet and move to a place that's a little smaller, then we'll be able to give something back,'' said Pam. "It will be our turn to help someone else.''

Since 1947, readers of the Post-Gazette have been lending a hand to families that need help during the holidays through the Goodfellows Toy Fund.

Contributions help ensure that every boy and girl receives a toy this holiday season. Every donation, large and small, is acknowledged in the newspaper.

You can make a tax-deductible contribution using the coupon on this page, or make a donation online by visiting www.post-gazette.com/pgcharities.

Grand total:.....$91,724.24

J. P. Phillips Inc......$500

In memory of

David L. Spence.....$500

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Kremser.....$300

Paul DuFour.....$300

Joan and Aldo Bartolotta.....$300

Hicks Family.....$300

Willy and Lisa Jacobs.....$300

Robert C. Levin.....$250

Joe and Alexa Bensy.....$250

Danny and Zack.....$250

Jim and Deborah Genstein.....$250

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Stover.....$230

Corrine Lightbown.....$200

Elizabeth Schafer.....$200

Jean-Marc and

Sandra Chatellier.....$200

Anonymous.....$200

Anonymous.....$200

Laura Powell.....$200

Mr. and Mrs.

James M. Edwards.....$200

Ralph Tolino.....$200

Jordan Elizabeth Brody.....$200

Radelet Family.....$150

Anonymous.....$150

Larry Basinski.....$125

Susie Fisher.....$100

Mr. and Mrs. A.J. DeArdo.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

George and Susan Will.....$100

Merry Christmas.....$100

In memory of

Sophia Zacharias.....$100

Mark Biedrzycki.....$100

Jan and Rich Kleiser.....$100

Larry S. Blair.....$100

Dr. R.A. Labriola.....$100

Thomas A. Jones.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In memory of Stuart Hird.....$100

Peggy Fincke.....$100

Hurka Family.....$100

Tammy and Scott Graner.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In memory of

Bill and Peanie Ward and

Bill and Mary L. Turcsanyi.....$100

In memory of Evelyn Steffan.....$100

John and Karen Zalar.....$100

In memory of Nicole Hamilton.....$100

In memory of Samuel C. Frey

by Paul J. Frey.....$100

In memory of Joseph

and Mary Mazur- Delores-

Carol- Sylvester.....$100

George B. Duffey.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

John Shepard.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Helen M. Colwell.....$100

Tim and Sue Dreier.....$100

In memory of Louis J. Anania.....$100

Twila Milkovic.....$100

Paul and Sandra Kiefer.....$100

Edward W. Jew, Jr. MD.....$100

Keith and Maggie Fanks.....$100

Bz Fennimore and Marvin Fein.....$100

David P. Gerasole.....$100

Bill Rieland.....$100

Edgar Patrick Striffler.....$100

Richard and Kathy Barone.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Jeff and Sharon Evans.....$100

The Bonnets.....$100

Dave's Cleaning and Vending

Service.....$100

Donald and Meredith McGraw.....$100

First Catholic Slovak Ladies

Assoc. Branch 218.....$100

In honor of Lisa Brunelli.....$100

Anonymous.....$75

Day and Night Heating and Air

Conditioning of Pittsburgh Inc......$75

Jennifer A. Bender.....$75

Anonymous.....$75

Donna and Dick Heilman.....$75

In memory of Arthur Kleitz -- Pappy-Man.....$60

Stanley Gritz.....$55

Whitten Little.....$55

Jay and Susan Sedmak.....$55

In memory of

Little Benny Willoughby.....$52

In memory of Audrey Brown.....$50

Dale and Jo Winger.....$50

Rosanne and Al Andrews.....$50

In memory of Dusty and Daisy.....$50

Tom and Linda Morris.....$50

Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Martig.....$50

Pete and Cathy Gabelli.....$50

Mike and Karen Farren.....$50

Sara and Robert Englesberg.....$50

Jordan Landman.....$50

Zorich Family.....$50

Mr. and Mrs. W. Szafranski.....$50

Bob and Sonja Lancaster.....$50

Edwin Burkhart.....$50

Pittsburgh Coaches Association.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

James A. Beck.....$50

Anonymous.....$40

Anonymous.....$35

Nicholas, Maya

and Trent - Merry Christmas.....$25

In memory of Anna Rolik

and Rose Franc.....$25

In memory of

Matthew W. Pustelak.....$25

Scott A. Leibold.....$25

Richard and Gertrude Unger.....$25

David Whistler.....$25

Suzan Abel.....$25

Leann Karcher.....$25

Henry W. Jones.....$25

Bette J. Gilkey.....$25

Kathy Steimer.....$25

Joanne Phillips.....$25

Darryl Matevish and Family.....$25

Debbi Klein.....$25

Gary and Pam Kach.....$25

In memory of William G. Benson.....$25

Robert DiCicco.....$25

Mark and Lorraine DeFabio.....$25

In memory of

Todd W. Devey - Our Father.....$25

Lee C. Ferrero.....$25

In memory of Alice B. Gillard.....$25

Pytlik Design Associates.....$25

Paul and Alice Hanlon.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Jack and Mary Ann Mathews.....$25

John and Barb Gieder.....$25

In memory of Theodore, Mary

and Thomas Abel and

Virginia Wiel.....$25

In memory of "Pa"

- Ray Radakovich, Esq......$25

Maxwell and Nicholas Harbik.....$20

Cory and Nicholas Brady.....$20

Ruth Boccardi.....$20

Jack Priore.....$20

Michael and Norma Kolesar.....$20

In honor of Aaron, Jordan,

Alyssa and Leah.....$20

Clyde Goff.....$20

John and Andrea Abbatico.....$20

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Puskar.....$20

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kuhn.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Irmi Hummel.....$20

Gerald and Donna Fisher.....$20

Madelyne Makler.....$20

Bill and Dottie Chen.....$20

Jason Gould.....$20

In memory of Stanley O. Lane

by Andrea Lane.....$20

Carol Heck.....$20

Sylvia McClory.....$20

Connor M. Stutz.....$20

Alan Hobson.....$20

Robert and Barbara Mazenko.....$20

Gerry Deutsch.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

George C. Bandik, Ph.D......$20

Richard Danko.....$20

Michael and Barbara Arnone.....$20

Ryan Hartman.....$20

John, Kelly and Sidney.....$20

Rene Koronosky.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Lisa Chelpanoff.....$20

David Wald.....$20

Burt Bowman.....$20

Rocco and Joan Casello.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Richard Abbiatici.....$20

D. J. Schlegel.....$20

R. Lerch.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Jean Beacha.....$20

In memory of William

and Harriet Sutliff.....$20

In memory of

Jean Spottiswood.....$20

Winston Lindo.....$20

In memory of Jacob Bendel.....$15

Joe and Josh Beers.....$15

George S. and Louise M. Jones.....$15

Helen M. Vandzura.....$15

Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Lodovica.....$15

Mary Ellen Hart.....$15

In memory of

G. Samuel Staude.....$15

Terry Rowley.....$15

Anonymous.....$15

In honor of my Daughter -

Elaine Rokicki Makowski.....$15

William T. Smith.....$12

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Wilkins.....$12

Robert and Lillian Meyers.....$10

In memory of Thomas H.

Nichols, Thomas J. Nichols

and Janet Nichols Chowan.....$10

Frances M. Greenstine.....$10

M. Murphy.....$10

In memory of

Ann Alison Hoover.....$10

Esther R. Churak.....$10

Patricia Unger.....$10

Ann Conner.....$10

Mara Roedersheimer.....$10

Ingeborg Hamovitz.....$10

Fran and Ed Bartolowits.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

Lois T. Hutchins.....$10

Robert F. Bowers.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

Jules Defelices.....$10

Norbert Matta.....$10

John Sawhill.....$10

Anne Kravetz.....$10

Mike and Linda Cvitkovic.....$10

Antoinette Oleniacz.....$10

Ray and Maureen Contestabile.....$10

Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Hudanich.....$10

Vivian Campbell.....$10

Calvin Kincaid.....$10

Jane Fitzmartin.....$10

Gertrude Yount.....$10

Pat and Harold Butler.....$10

Grandchildren - James, Christina, Amanda, Karl and Kristina.....$10

Amanda Kearns.....$10

Lynda Fife.....$10

Stephen and Barbara Beleznay.....$10

NR Builders.....$10

Irma Mazza.....$10

Paul and Judy Sundo.....$10

Joan Kleinhenz.....$10

Bob and Veronica Michak.....$10

Kirstin, Gage and Sam Pine.....$6

Molly Rohrer.....$5

Anonymous.....$5

Janet M. Cherkes.....$5

Anonymous.....$5

Ann Ditoro.....$5

Anonymous.....$1