CBlev65252
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posted on June 23, 2005 12:17:31 PM new
My two year old nephew, Ryan, was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic last night. Since then, he has had three blood transfusions, his platelet count as well as red and white blood cell count have continued to drop. He is now in surgery for a bone marrow test. They think it may be leukemia. Please say a prayer that Ryan will be okay and that if he has to have leukemia that it is ALL which is the most curable form.
This little guy doesn't care if there's a democrat or republican in office. He doesn't care if the cost of gasoline is $2.50 a gallon or a $1.00 a gallon. He doesn't care about the cost of living or interest rates or if Social Security is in trouble or not. He's an innocent and right now he needs everyone's help. My brother asked that I get everyone I can to say a prayer, so I'm coming to all of you.
We are leaving shortly for the Clinic because as a family unit, we're pretty strong. I think we may give the nursing staff a fright when they see the number of us coming there. There's strength in numbers!
Thanks, all!
Cheryl
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Libra63
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posted on June 23, 2005 12:23:23 PM new
My Prayers are with you and your family Cheryl.
_________________
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kraftdinner
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posted on June 23, 2005 01:02:58 PM new
My prayers to Ryan and your family, Cheryl.
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maggiemuggins
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posted on June 23, 2005 01:24:08 PM new
Cheryl, my prayers are with Ryan and your family. Keep strong and positive. My heart is with you at this difficult time. Hugs.. Maggie
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crowfarm
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posted on June 23, 2005 01:38:14 PM new
Hoping for the best for the little guy !
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on June 23, 2005 02:07:12 PM new
Best wishes for all.
Ron
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Helenjw
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posted on June 23, 2005 03:02:22 PM new
Cheryl, generally childhood leukemia responds very well to treatment. Hope your little guy is feeling better soon!
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logansdad
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posted on June 23, 2005 04:49:05 PM new
Cheryl, I hope your nephew is OK. No one that young should have to endure that kind of hardship.
I will say an extra prayer for him tonight.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
President George Bush: "Over time the truth will come out."
President George Bush: "Our people are going to find out the truth, and the truth will say that this intelligence was good intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind."
Bush was right. The truth did come out and the facts are he misled Congress and the American people about the reasons we should go to war in Iraq.
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fenix03
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posted on June 23, 2005 05:13:51 PM new
Nothing but good thoughts for Ryan and your family!
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
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twig125silver
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posted on June 23, 2005 05:17:17 PM new
Only positive thoughts are coming his way!
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 23, 2005 06:48:53 PM new
Ryan is in the Cleveland Clinic so he's getting the best of care. He will be there for at least the next 10 days. We got there when the doctor was giving my niece Melissa the news. It is Leukemia. They won't know what type until tomorrow. We're hopeful it's A-L-L (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) because it's the easiest to cure. They have Ryan on Morphine because Leukemia is very painful. My niece (Ryan is my great-nephew) is a mess. This is a lot for a 23 year old to handle. Fortunately, the family is banding together. We're creating a schedule where someone will be at the hospital to give her some relief. I don't know if that will work. She wouldn't let go of Ryan the whole time we were there. He's connected to IV's and a heart monitor.
Because his immune system is now compramised, we all have to "disinfect" before we went into the room. It will be this way for the next three days. The doctor explained the whole procedure and Ryan will have a difficult time of it. The treatment is not pleasant.
I really appreciate all your kind thoughts and prayers and I know Melissa does as well. I can tell you this, it was very hard to hold back the tears when I walked into his room. But, for Melissa, I did. It's time to be strong because she's not able to be right now.
The saddest thing of all is that I was just with him two weeks ago and he was running around laughing and playing like he didn't have a care in the world.
Edited to add: I found out tonight that my niece has been taking Ryan to the doctor for months complaining that she thought something was wrong with him. The doctor told her that Ryan was okay and that she, in so many words, was a worrier worried about nothing. Good heavens, what was this doctor thinking?
Cheryl
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Jun 23, 2005 06:54 PM ]
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bigpeepa
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posted on June 23, 2005 07:04:04 PM new
Cheryl, My family will say prayers for Ryan and your family. Tomorrow we will light a candle at our Church for Ryan.
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kiara
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posted on June 23, 2005 07:07:08 PM new
Sending good thoughts and prayers that Ryan will be running and playing again soon, Cheryl.
All the best and stay strong... he's lucky to have you as part of his family.
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 23, 2005 09:31:00 PM new
Cheryl,my thoughts and prayers will be for Ryan, and the whole family.
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 24, 2005 04:09:53 AM new
We need fund raising ideas. I just found out through my brother that Melissa has no health insurance coverage through her employer and although she can take the Family Medical Leave, she will have no income during this. We want to do something to raise funds. Any ideas would be helpful because I really have no ideas right now.
Cheryl
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 24, 2005 07:55:34 AM new
Cheryl, is it possible to do ebay auctions, and proceeds go to Ryans medical fund? I've seen others do it for fellow ebayers that are sick
I don't know how it works, though.
People could donate a few auctions and have them paypal to your account, or another account you set up ???
Just a thought
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Libra63
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posted on June 24, 2005 08:21:46 AM new
Have her go to the state of Ohio to see if there is medical coverage for Ryan under the welfare system. Also the Cleveland Clinic should have some ideas.
If she doesn't have any health insurance from her company she just might qualify for the State of Ohio's insurance that is if they have any.
As I posted before Walmart employees have their health insurance through the State of Wisconsin Badger Care.
This should give a heads up. If you don't have insurance check to see what catastrophic insurance costs. Usuall the premiums are affordable and they usually cover anything over either $5,000.00 or $10,000 depending on the policy you choose and the price you pay. At least that is better than none.
Good Luck.
_________________
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cherishedclutter
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posted on June 24, 2005 08:34:09 AM new
Throw a party - or have some family friend throw one. I'm sure you'd have to check to see what's legal in your area. But around here they have benefit dances and auctions (live - not ebay). Charge a fee to enter and accept additional donations. Make it know up front that all proceeds will help Ryan. And/or have people donate goods and services and auction or raffle them off.
Know any local business people? Make a simple flier with ryan's picture and a very short description of need, supply a container and ask the business people to put the container near a cash register or at the window of a drive thru business.
Just some thoughts from what I've seen people in similar situations do.
Also find the right person (possibly case worker) to talk to in the hospital. I know someone who had a 7 week stay in the hospital and much of the debt was "forgiven". It never hurts to ask.
Good luck with the money part.
…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9-10
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maggiemuggins
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posted on June 24, 2005 08:34:49 AM new
Cheryl, set up an account through your bank in Ryan's name for medical support, then contact your local TV station and ask if they will run a charity fund raiser piece with donations to be sent to the bank account. I see it done down here often. Also contact your local chapter of B'nai Brith community services.
Maggie
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fenix03
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posted on June 24, 2005 09:07:40 AM new
Cheryl do you have any suppliers that sell little widgets like keyrings? If not, email me at [email protected] (You know the drill - you have to post on the board and tell me to check it), I have one that I used to use that I know has some, I just need to find the catalog disk). Order a load of these and put them in your store. Do the whole MyEbay thing with Ryan's story and what is happening and then post the auction number here and on the EO board, the various church bulletin boards of your family memebers and anywhere else you can think of for people to put that auction on their watch list so that we can get it onto the Pulse. Placement there should help bring more attention to them and their sales.
I would actually go ahead and start a new account that is just for Ryan. Let us know when you do so that we can help you get the feedback numbers needed to open a store. Put out the call to family and friends for donation items that you can run auctions on then put a link in every one of those auctions to the keyring (or whatever little generic widget item you pick) so that even if someone does not bid on that item, there is an avenue for them to use to give something if they want.
See if you can get your niece involved. If there is some way that she can help address the envelopes at the hospital (just an example), that constant contact with the kindness of strangers may help her keep her spirits up.
Let me know if you decide to open the store - I have some things I can send you to add to the frey.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
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Helenjw
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posted on June 24, 2005 09:18:05 AM new
"We need fund raising ideas. I just found out through my brother that Melissa has no health insurance coverage through her employer and although she can take the Family Medical Leave, she will have no income during this. We want to do something to raise funds. Any ideas would be helpful because I really have no ideas right now. "
You might consider setting up a page for Ryan where you can post updates on his progress along with a feature to accept donations. Such an illness is an overwhelming expense for most Americans...even those who have insurance.
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 24, 2005 09:53:24 AM new
Those are all great ideas.
Helen, thats a great idea, I've seen pages like that before. She could do a progress thing, and a paypal button to donate
Cheryl, hope all these ideas help!
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 24, 2005 12:48:36 PM new
Thanks, everyone. I'm working on my ME page updates tonight. It's too hot in my office right now to do it just yet. I've got a photo of Melissa with the children that I'll post. I'm also noting in my auctions that the profits are going to Melissa. I'll be broke for awhile, but that's okay. The ideas are all great. I have my work cut out for me.
Ryan is in surgery right now getting a tube put into his chest for the Chemotherapy. He does have the ALL type of Leukemia so that's good news. There's an 80-90% survival rate with that type of Leukemia. We'll know more about his chances for survival once the Chemotherapy has had a chance to work.
My daughter is on her way to the hospital with an arm load and more of gifts.
Helen
I like that idea and will begin working on it. I can get an email address for free (like ryansfund@----) and set up a PayPal account under my main one. Great idea.
Libra
She is looking into the state healthcare. The other problem is that while she is out of work caring for Ryan, she'll have no income. She can apply for assistance, but right now she can't leave the hospital to do that. She simply refuses to leave Ryan's side. Not that I can blame her. I may call the local family services office to see what can be done. Maybe they can go to her. I know she's going to resist this idea because she has always worked. But, IMO, she's entitled to the help.
Cheryl
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 24, 2005 01:17:19 PM new
Here's Ryan's Page:
http://www.cfitonline.org/ryans_page.html
Thanks again!
Cheryl
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Jun 25, 2005 03:18 AM ]
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maggiemuggins
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posted on June 24, 2005 09:00:57 PM new
Hey everybody.. I have just made a loving donation of 25.00 toward little Ryan's medical expenses and I would like to challenge the rest of the posters here on the RT and EO to do the same...Maggie
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funkikitti
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posted on June 25, 2005 08:13:15 AM new
Hi, just semt a little token. Is your neice a single mom? I know it's got to be hard..
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 25, 2005 08:33:58 AM new
She is single although the children's father is in the picture. He's worthless, IMO. He sits at home on his lazy behind while Melissa works sometimes 80 hours a week to support the family. She has made the wise decision to kick him to the curb, though. She's kept him around for so long because everytime she wants him to leave, the children throw a fit. She sees now that it's only going to hurt them in the long run to keep him around.
Well, I exhausted for the day. The morning was spent at the bank opening a savings account for the donations. The rest of the morning was spent doing the accounting and sending thank you's out for them. Now, I have to consider doing my own accounting and it's supposed to be above 90 today! Think I'll go outside and sit in the sprinkler for awhile. 
Cheryl
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parklane64
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posted on June 26, 2005 12:45:44 PM new
Little Ryan has my prayers.
Can St. Jude's help? http://www.stjude.org/
Darn, forgot how to do a link!
Be sure not to commingle any donations with family funds in case social services gets involved.
keep us updated.
Hugs and warm fuzzies, Cheryl.
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CBlev65252
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posted on June 26, 2005 01:04:50 PM new
parklane
I already opened a savings account for the money in both my brother's (his grandfather) and my name. In order for it to be in Ryan's there would have to be a trust set up. Just try to get an attorney to do anything pro-bono these days. There will be careful accounting. If I'm nothing else, I'm a meticulous record keeper.
I know all about comingling. It's a word I heard often from our attorney when we were setting up our non-profit.
Cheryl
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parklane64
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posted on June 27, 2005 01:10:56 PM new
You're on the ball, Cheryl.
I was very saddened to read in your EO post about Ryan's turn for the worst. Hopefully the Doctors will control his difficulties.
I accept Maggie's challenge and will donate this payday. WTG, Maggie.
Sending positive vibes and prayers your way.
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