UPDATE!!!
You will be pleased to know that this family has been able to pay for their child's funeral costs. Thank you to everyone who has donated and please remember we have many more requests!
You will be pleased to know that this family has been able to pay for their child's funeral costs. Thank you to everyone who has donated and please remember we have many more requests!
A PLEA FOR HELP
I received this letter from a broken hearted grandmother while on vacation. Our funds are low so we don't have money to pay this fee for them. Please read her story and find place in your heart to donate for this family. If you have questions please e-mail me at klinge2620@live.com.
Thank you all for your ongoing support,
Shana
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am hoping that the website/email addresses that I have found might be able to help me. It would be an answer to prayer if it does. Please, I am looking for someone to help my daughter and son-in-law with the final expenses for their infant son.
My grandson was born June 25, 2010 and passed away on June 10, 2011 at the University of Iowa. Nash died of heart failure after being in the hospital for almost 90 days. Before that he was in the hospital for almost 30 days in November and had heart surgery that the doctors told us he would never have to have another surgery except maybe a pacemaker battery change. Less than 4 months later he was in heart failure and had to be air lifted to our University Hospital. He was put on ECMO and was given no chance of survival without getting a new heart. He was put on the heart transplant list but his heart was not strong enough to make it until the transplant would come through. They put an experimental Berlin Heart in his heart to bridge the gap until the transplant would come. He never did get relisted back on the active transplant list because of his infections and failing organs. He passed away before he received a new heart.
Dad, Mom, and I were at his side for the 90 days since his admission. We did not work at all during this time. They did not have life or funeral insurance for Nash. They have had to pay for expenses out of their pocket. We did have a fundraiser that covered only part of the funeral expenses and a few bills the parents had. He has 1800.00 left to be paid to Hamilton’s Funeral Home. It is becoming a financial hardship on them. They do not make much money and do receive some state assistance. Could you help them or know of people who could?
I can send you the itemized statement from the funeral home and the expenses that was incurred if you need.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Tina Britt
Nash’s story can be read here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pockets/journal
Thank you all for your ongoing support,
Shana
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am hoping that the website/email addresses that I have found might be able to help me. It would be an answer to prayer if it does. Please, I am looking for someone to help my daughter and son-in-law with the final expenses for their infant son.
My grandson was born June 25, 2010 and passed away on June 10, 2011 at the University of Iowa. Nash died of heart failure after being in the hospital for almost 90 days. Before that he was in the hospital for almost 30 days in November and had heart surgery that the doctors told us he would never have to have another surgery except maybe a pacemaker battery change. Less than 4 months later he was in heart failure and had to be air lifted to our University Hospital. He was put on ECMO and was given no chance of survival without getting a new heart. He was put on the heart transplant list but his heart was not strong enough to make it until the transplant would come through. They put an experimental Berlin Heart in his heart to bridge the gap until the transplant would come. He never did get relisted back on the active transplant list because of his infections and failing organs. He passed away before he received a new heart.
Dad, Mom, and I were at his side for the 90 days since his admission. We did not work at all during this time. They did not have life or funeral insurance for Nash. They have had to pay for expenses out of their pocket. We did have a fundraiser that covered only part of the funeral expenses and a few bills the parents had. He has 1800.00 left to be paid to Hamilton’s Funeral Home. It is becoming a financial hardship on them. They do not make much money and do receive some state assistance. Could you help them or know of people who could?
I can send you the itemized statement from the funeral home and the expenses that was incurred if you need.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Tina Britt
Nash’s story can be read here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pockets/journal
My Bloomsday Journey
I was Jogging through Greenough Park last week, really enjoying the beautiful day, fresh air, listening to the water run and the birds sing. I wasn't thinking about how much my legs hurt or that I couldn't catch my breath-because I COULD catch my breath! Granted, my legs were sore but it wasn't prevalent on my mind at that moment! Now, rewind 4 months:
I was on my way to my first training session with Jen, that wonderful, tough woman who kicks my rear repeatedly 3 times a week!! On my way I was gulping down my coffee and getting one last cigarette in before I got there. I was SO excited! I have wanted to get back into running for a while now. We walked some with the other 2 ladies there and then it was time- we are going to jog a lap- 1/4 mile. I am thinking to myself "No problem! 1/4 mile? Pfhtt!" Well, the first 1/4 of the 1/4 mile was ok but I was breathing hard already and starting to wonder if I was going to breeze through this like I thought. I kept going, mainly because I sure wasn't going to be the first one to stop!!! By the time we got to the last 1/4 of the 1/4 mile, I truly thought I would die. Just fall over flat on my face and die right then and there!! My chest felt like it was on fire, the breath seemed to try to go in but stopped long before my body felt that reassuring rush of oxygen going into my lungs! My feet felt as though someone had added 20 pounds to the bottom of my shoes, they wouldn't come up off the ground! My feet ached and my legs burned. I slowed down and then started walking thinking "maybe they won't notice" but Oh no!! That Jen, she has eyes in the back of her head and was right there taking my arm and saying, "No stopping, you can make it! We only have to go to that next yellow mark...ok now the next yellow mark... for real this time we will stop at the next mark!" What a wake up call!!!
As soon as we were done and I could actually TALK, I set my quit smoking date and set up with Michelle to get hypnotized to quit smoking. I decided then and there that something had to change. Maybe, just maybe, I would even start eating breakfast! Yikes!
Thus began 4 months of small steps toward the big picture. Every week we would go jogging and after a few weeks, I actually made it all the way around the track without stopping!! Whoot! Jen was relentless though and had me keep on keeping on and before I knew it after a few weeks I made it 1 mile without stopping! My first goal met!!
A couple of weeks later and I made it 2 miles! (Yes, I had quit smoking :-) )
Fast forward now to last weekend and the Fun(d) Run in Bonner. Jen, Kerrie and I are there and ready to go! It's a 5k- 3.1 miles. Mostly flat with a little hill along the way. We took off and jogged, slowly but jogged, and kept jogging- THE WHOLE WAY!!!!
At the end I was exhausted but I jogged the entire 5k without stopping!! Whoot!!! I didn't keel over and die after 1/4 mile, I could (sort of) talk the whole way and I felt INCREDIBLY proud of myself! Bret was there to cheer me on- my wonderful supportive husband!
This weekend I plan to do it again at the Riverbank run and then BLOOMSDAY!!!! My ultimate goal being the Half Marathon in Portland OR in October this year.
I relate this process to my greiving process. The first few weeks, I really wanted to die. Getting out of bed was a huge accomplishment and taking a shower even more so. The days went by and I started to realize that I have to keep living, Mason wouldn't want me to die too even if I think I would rather do that than go on without him. And, just like running, I have good days and bad days even still. Some days I breeze through, can talk and laugh just like before, and then other days I can't stop crying. All I can do is take things one day at a time, keep trying, and know that everything I do matters.
So, next weekend we go to Spokane and I will walk with Mason's team proudly wearing his beautiful face and knowing that he is up in heaven most likely RUNNING and saying "Good Job Nana!!! Keep on keeping on!!!"
We are doing this to raise money to help other parents in my situation. Please consider sponsering us as we walk for the Angels up in heaven and for the ones who love them that are left behind. There is a donate now button on the What help can we offer page and we truly appreciate any donations!
Thank you all and keep on keeping on!!!!
Shana
Thank you to all of the people who have commited to walk or run Bloomsday in Mason's memory and to help us raise funds for his cause!!
Shana Klinge
Angie Tollefson
Brady Tollefson
Shelly Cresci
Kayla McBride
Tabitha Vang
Erin Schwisow
