I apologize ahead of time if this comes off a bit disjointed. I have never been very good at waiting and so I am typing and thinking and pleaing all at the same time here (and I don’t think “pleaing” is a word either…sorry about that, too).
I’ve mentioned my cousin’s 11 month old daughter, Penelope. She has been recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Penny’s insurance is only going to cover 60% of her treatments. As it is, they haven’t even left the hospital and already have a $4000 bill for her very first CT scan. And there is more coming:
Since then she’s had 2 MRI’s, a bone scan, two nuclear medicine scans, a bone marrow biopsy, two surgeries, 7 rounds of anesthesia, daily X-rays, 1 cycle of chemotherapy, countless meetings/reviews with Dr’s, and 12 days inpatient. On top of that we were informed that once we’re released she needs daily GCS-F shots. A 10 day treatment of these shots costs $1,500. So, we’d need two 10 day cycles per month, since she’ll get chemo every three weeks and be inpatient 3-5 days after. Of course, this medication is NOT covered by our insurance. ~www.pennies4penny.org
Ouch.
My heart is so heavy for my cousin and her little family.
So, I started thinking. Heck, I’m a blogger. I’m “in tune” with social media. I have seen Twitter go crazy over less important stuff. How can I use my “influence” (term I use loosely – lol) to help my sweet baby cousin?
This is where YOU come in.
I’m staging a massive offensive. I want to spread the word of Penny and her fight to the world. I need bloggers blogging about her, I need twitterers tweeting about her and I want Facebookers Facebooking about her!
We need our local San Diego news stations to pick up her story (tweet them Fox 5, 10News, NBC San Diego) . We are looking for businesses to donate goods/services for fund raising purposes. I will be organizing an online auction and need donations so that 100% of the proceeds can go to Penny’s treatment.
Will you please help?
You may or may not be aware that just today, another little girl tragically passed of this dreadful disease. In no way do I want to be insensitive to sweet Layla Grace or her family. But time is also of the essence for Penny and I don’t want to waste it.
Please don’t let Penny’s story end like Layla’s! It is simply unbearable to imagine.
Join me! This Friday March 12th.
- Please post about Pennies4Penny.org on your blog. You have the families permission to use her photo as long as it’s in conjunction with a post about her and in no way derogatory or offensive.
- Please FLOOD Twitter with Penny’s fight! Link to your post or Penny’s website, or both. Follow @pennies4penny and Use hash tag #pennies4penny.
- Please post Facebook status updates about Penny’s website and her Facebook Fan page at “pennies4penny”.
- Grab Penny’s Widget (located on my sidebar) to bring awareness of her fight to your own website.
- And if you are one that does not blog, tweet or facebook, then please just email everyone you know about Penny’s website!
I will have a post up on Friday at Pennies4Penny.org with a linky so you may link your love to it for her family and friends to see.
If you are a company that would like to donate goods/services for an online fundraiser, please contact me here to discuss details.
Thank you SO much!
I’m in, I’ll blog for you on Friday!
.-= Heather (formerly Maternal Spark)´s last blog ..Cool Beans =-.
I’m in Rhea!
Is there a grab button info box we can put on our blog?
I see you have the button made, but no text to add it?
hugs
.-= Faythe@GMT´s last blog ..WW/ 1st day out of the "cave"! =-.
Hi Faythe, I added the button code to this post so you can grab it easier. I didn’t think about that. Thanks for reminding me.
I would be happy to post about it. Anything I can do to help. I’ll add it to my calendar right now!
.-= Emilie´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Feels like spring so bring on the zoo! =-.
I’m in for Friday too!!
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Did You Know? =-.
I already tweeted today, and will be blogging Friday too! Anything to help out!
Count me in, Rhea.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..For Layla Grace =-.
I don’t blog, Twitter, etc. but you can count on me to email some people who do!
I just adore you Renee. Thanks for your help!
Hey! Look what I found
http://blogfully.net/2010/03/mommy-2-3-monkeys-needs-our-help-please-read/
And here:
http://reesspace.blogspot.com/2010/03/calling-all-bloggers-help-needed-this.html
This is why I love my blogger friends–they are so quick to help others.
Thanks Renee, for the email you sent that brought me here. I will definitely send the word out to my friends on twitter, facebook and Blogfully.
Mommy23Monkeys- My prayers are with dear sweet little cousin. My prayers are with you all!!!!
Blogfully yours,
Barb
Just thought I’d let you know that I made a quick mention about the situation on Blogfully (didn’t want to take away from your post, so I just thought I’d lead them all your way). I also tweeted it…hope this helps!!!!
I lift up prayers for Penelope that she my find healing as she is treated. I pray for the doctors and the nurses that they are given wisdom to treat this little girl and I pray for peace for Penelope’s family as they come to terms with the emotional impact while Penelope is being healed. We have a God that is bigger than any disease and we all comfort in knowing that he loves us and he loves Penelope.
Thank you for that beautiful prayer!
~Rhea
I already posted and will do so again on Friday!
Also can you give us a better idea of what types of donations we could help with?
Praying for your family…
Kristina
.-= Kristina at Me and My Momma’s Money´s last blog ..Carrots… Not so much =-.
Thank you Kristina!
They are currently seeking monetary donations with a paypal donate button on their site. But I am organizing an online auction and am looking for product donations for that. Their #1 goal right now is to get the word out and get the money needed to cure her.
~Rhea
I have posted the widget and the button on my blog. I’m also sponsoring a giveaway for any blogger who posts the widget and/or button on their blog. You can find the details here http://spiceandallthatsnice.blogspot.com/2010/03/pennies-for-penny.html
I have also posted on several message boards and facebook to help spread the love.
Thank you!!!
I’ll be posting Friday, too.
.-= Kate @ The Shopping Mama´s last blog ..New Boppy Accessories Review + Giveaway =-.
I’ll be posting and tweeting and facebooking this Friday too. My prayers are with your cousin and her sweet baby.
.-= Mama Mary´s last blog ..how wayne brady and "the secret" conspired to make me a stay at home mom – part 2 =-.
I’ll be here on friday and tweet tweeting..so sorry!
I’ll be praying and see if I can get in some tweeting
.-= Louise´s last blog ..Random Tuesday – Too Much is just Too Much =-.
Hi there, my first time here, and I’m so glad I came.
My son (now 12 years old) was dx with Stage 3 Neuroblastoma at the age of 4 months. We are one of the fortunate few because he survived and is doing well.
I will do everything I can to spread the word for you. And I will keep precious Penny in my thoughts every day.
Wow, Mary! Really. That is amazing, what a miracle!! Thank you for all your help. Please visit Penny’s website http://www.pennies4penny.org and leave a comment for my cousin. I think it would mean a lot to hear from someone who has “been there, done that.” Thanks!
Here is my post!
http://www.babylovingmama.com/2010/03/pennies-for-penny-please-help.html
.-= Emilie´s last blog ..Pennies for Penny – Please Help! =-.