Ganesh and I need your help

get a snack, a glass of wine, or go pee... this is a long one


How do I rig a donate button?
Do I need to set up a paypal thingy?
Does anyone out there know anyone who knows anything about not for profits fund raising or grass roots organizations?

I'm trying to help a mom whose kids are patients of mine. She doesn't know about my blog. She doesn't really know I'm trying to help her
Cause I'm afraid I might fail and I don't want to let her down

Let me tell you about Kim. Kim is a single mom. She works as a CT tech. She's older than I am. She has two kids. Matthew is 15 and Judy is 9

They're both adopted

They both have Down syndrome

Kim adopted one baby with Down Syndrome. 5 years later she adopted another

Oh, and did I say she's a single mom?

There you go

2 weeks ago they came in to see me for a routine visit. They told me about Judy's pen pal in Florida, a little girl who had neuroblastoma and had died before Judy could get down there to say goodbye. Kim told me that Judy asked to speak at her friend's memorial service.
I asked Judy what she was going to say.

Even though my friend is gone, she will always be in my heart. Judy crosses her hands over her heart. And whenever the wind blows, I'll know she's calling my name... and then I'm gonna sing

What are you gonna sing?

AAH..MAY...ZI...ING...GRAACE ...



Seriously??? Are you fucking kidding me??? I didn't really say that

And do you know what she did next?

Yup... she noticed Ganesh


Is this a princess? I think it's a princess. A princess with a trunk. I think its a magic princess with a trunk. Is it magic? I think it is. What's the password to let the magic out?

She holds my necklace in her hands.

Abracadabra. No that's not it.

Magic princess. Nope that didn't work either.

I want to say the magic word so I can be a princess too and kiss a frog and he'll turn into a prince. I want to be a beautiful princess with a trunk.

I know! Hannah Montana

That night when I got home I ordered Judy a Ganesh necklace. She's determined to figure out the secret password to let the magic out. She also told Kim that she loves the necklace not ONLY for its magic but also because now she and I have something in common

Damn


Let me tell you more about the mom Kim.

Last year, Kim decided she wanted to grant wishes specifically to kids with Down Syndrome. So she started granting wishes. With just her cell phone and her tenacious drive.

Oh. And in case you forgot? Kim is the working single mom of two kids with Down Syndrome whom she adopted as infants.


All wishers have Down Syndrome.

Some have complications that come along with Trisomy 21

Wish #1
30 year old, who lives in Washington State, wants to meet Reba McEntire. Kim gets on the phone. When she's done, this wisher has 2 nights in a hotel, entrance to the Oregon State Fair where Miss Reba is performing, front row seats and a backstage visit. And gas money.

Wish #2
A 7 year old with leukemia who has just gone through 2 years of chemo needs a new bed. Mom had put a bed on layaway at a store in Michigan, but can't afford to pay the balance. Kim gets on the phone. When she's done, the wisher has a complete bedroom set and a bedroom makeover. And her brother has a new bedroom too. And the family has 2 new couches and new wall to wall carpeting. In time for Christmas

Wish #3
A young man, who lives in Texas, wants to arrive at his 30th birthday party in a limo. He wants to wear a tux. Kim gets on the phone, and talks to the mom who has been unemployed for a while and says there is no party. When Kim is done, they have a banquet hall, a limo, a tux, a DJ, a videographer, food and drink from Panera and Pepsi for 50 guests , a limo shaped cake, and paper and plastic wear from Target. Kim also gets Delta to donate a plane ticket to fly his sister in from Washington. And Marriott to donate a hotel room for sis and transportation to and from the airport. So when the wisher steps into the limo, his most favorite sister is waiting for him. Surprise!

Wish #4
Two girls, one from Alabama and one from Pennsylvania, had the same wish. To meet Miley Cyrus. Kim gets on the phone and gets Walmart, who's sponsoring a concert, to donate 7 front row tickets. Kim gets on the phone with Miley's tour manager and gets the girls in to a pre-concert sound check party. She gets hotel accommodations for them both. She gives them gas money out of her own pocket.

Wish #5
A 5 year old in Michigan wants to be able to ride bikes with her big sisters. But this 5 year old has a brain tumor and a tracheal tumor. Kim finds a specialized tricycle that the little girl will be able to ride. A $1500 tricycle. She gets on the phone, and gets the manufacturer to donate the trike. And pay for shipping.


The wishes go on. Specialized hearing aids from Switzerland that insurance won't pay for. Specialized stroller for a child in L.A. with multiple medical issues. New clothes. Puppies.

Just Kim and her phone.

And she does it all just to see the smiles on their faces when they get their wish.

It makes her happy.

So she's trying to set up a not for profit. She can get all this stuff for others, but she won't ask for stuff for herself. She needs someone to design her website. She needs a logo.

So. I'm WAY not good at organizing and I hate anything that remotely resembles a commitee.
I also hate asking anyone for anything.

And I do. not. like. talking on the phone.

But in July there is a huge annual Downs conference in Orlando that Kim would love to attend. This conference also holds a subconference for people over the age of 15 who have Down syndrome themselves. Matthew is 15 and would be happy as a clam if he got the chance to participate. And Kim is so BEAST and fearless that I can't even imagine the contacts and committments she'll leave with if she's able to go.

Kim's sister will pay for a hotel room but she doesn't have the cash for 2 roundtrip tickets from NY to Orlando.

Hence my desire for a donate button.
I think I may just match donations dollar for dollar

I'm asking for your help. I know blogland is a huge resource. I just don't know how to access it. So if anyone out there can direct me to...
How to set up a donate button
Anyone who knows anything about starting up not for profits or the business/legal that goes with it
Any blog moms of kids with Down syndrome or other special needs who are super duper powerhouses like Kim and

may know the magic words to remove the obstacles to Kim's wish...

I would be eternally grateful