"ignore the story. see the soul. remember to love. you will never regret it" --- Seane Corn

"ignore the story. see the soul. remember to love. you will never regret it" --- Seane Corn
it's a jungle out there

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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




19 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm--I'll put my thinking cap on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think if you just go to the paypal website...
    I think.
    Or, you could just get a p.o. box and list that.
    Maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey honey- why don't we get the studio involved? You can write something for my blog (ooooh guest blogger!) and for the next newsletter Harrison can help you get paypal started if you have any questions. We can put a link form your articel to your paypa account. All of this is easy....or fairly so. We can also have an event that brings awareness and raises money.....tons of amazing musicians aroud. SO just talk to me and we will make it happen. Ganesh will remove those obstacles....never fear.
    all my love to a fellow sister.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You go into your paypal account under merchant services, and it will tell you how to do it; you will see a "Create buttons" column, and you click on the "donate" one, and it will bring up several to choose from and generate the code for you. Very easy, very quick.

    Good luck-get the button up and I will write a post directing people here as well.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't know a thing about the legal stuff, but Kori and all above are right, paypal donate stuff is easy-peasy. Your paypal account will link to your personal bank account, so how you get the money to Kim is up to you... most likely a check from you to her.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm going to send a couple of people your way who I think may be able to help you. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. TKW sent me your info. I just added a Donate Paypal button to my website, if you need my help (I can walk you through the process) just email me at fritz.lindy@gmail.com

    Good luck to you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow...that is amazing!! I sent you an email for the chipin button that I use!! email me if you need more help: ttownsend@bex.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. If it doesn't work out, email me, and I'll mail you a check. I'll also hype the hell out of this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You ladies ROCK.

    I checked the comments while descending into shopping hell and my eyes started leaking in the middle of Walmart

    off to figure out my button

    you know what I mean...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Albert Pujols has a website. http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/

    His daughter has downs syndrome. Maybe you can get him to do something to help out. He's an amazing guy who has a heart of gold and arms of steel.

    ReplyDelete
  12. judy was right about the magic word, but perhaps must work on her pronunciation.

    abracadabra is from the ancient hebrew 'avarah k'davarah'...what i speak, i create.

    so, you will get your paypal button.

    judy will hear her name on the wind.

    and i will live to see you never shop in walmart again.

    dear god, woman. are you EVER an enigma wrapped in a conundrum...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think I love you.
    No, I know I do.
    If you still need help after you filter through the abundant blessings you've already gotten, let me know. Otherwise, I'm standing by to hit the button.
    Honestly, Michelle, no matter what happens, this world is a better place because you're in it.
    Love, love.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Posted to my blog, too:
    http://eathereeatery.blogspot.com/2010/04/special-olympians-needed.html

    And I donated, but the counter may not be working, or may have a delay. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  15. oh the blog ate my comment.
    trying again.
    So glad you got your button up.
    this post wowed me in so many ways.
    kim will go, and so will her son.
    and all the other things will happen to.
    i think the speaking of it, the telling, and the wish in you are the magic words.
    Thanks for sharing this.
    Ganesh power!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a little challenged with technology but I love the idea of a donation button. I bet you could email paypal and ask them how to set something up. This was such a touching post. There should be more Kims out there in the world granting wishings. My son has aspergers and I am always wondering about ways to spread a little more sunshine to these kids. Thanks for your comment on my blog this morning...I'm quite fond of the Fbomb too ;))

    ReplyDelete
  17. wadoo'i think?? I think we talked about draginas (again) and trust accounts for too long yesterday, and I'm a couple of days behind the posts...I can set up the NFP, no sweat - but maybe we know a fatcat lawyer who works for a fatcat whiteshoe midtown firm who can do some pro bono work for Sister Kim and Miss Judy. Why not??

    I also think Adrienne is a smartypants (in the best kind of way)...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Done and dusted - fabulous idea. Button was already up and running by the time I got here. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't know how to do all that techno stuff or anything, but I can scrounge up a check & send it to you to help with the air fairy.

    ReplyDelete

so... wadaya think?

Your fairy is called Columbine Icedancer
She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.
She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.
She is only seen when the bees swarm and the crickets chirrup.
She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers. She has icy blue butterfly wings.