Real life will often trip you up in unexpected ways and ones hard to fathom. If you've been on the receiving end of such a nasty curve ball, you know the feeling. Helplessness. Distress. Sleeplessness. Unpredictability. Fear. Despondency. A feeling of not knowing what to do next, or who to turn to for help.
Such is the case now with one of our long-standing Daily Kos members, KibbutzAmiad (Lori). Having run out of viable options and after exhausting all other avenues, she reluctantly posted a diary yesterday reaching out to our community - Longing for home... All she is asking is the opportunity to bring her son, Keir, home and have some semblance of normality. Burdened by medical bills and a long struggle to keep her son alive, she just needs a bit of support. For Lori, there is a light flickering at the end of this dark tunnel. It's what gives her hope. Let's help her get through this ordeal.
For those of you who are relatively new here, and may have lurked for years before joining the community, know that we have rarely, if ever, failed one of our own. Through random acts of encouragement and kindness, not to mention incredible generosity, we've always come through in times of need. The state of our politics may disappoint us all from time to time, but the outpouring of sympathy and support displayed in times of need is what keeps many of us coming back. Out of the thousands of minor and major interactions that occur on a daily basis - and I'm reasonably sure that I can speak for most of you - we all can count on one certainty on Daily Kos: when the need arises, we have always helped one of our own. It's also the decent thing to do.
If at all possible, please extend a helping hand to Lori. Here's the Donation link for Keir at GoFundMe.
Please follow me for more below the fold...
Update #1
I was away for a few hours and wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who've joined hands to support Lori and her son, Keir. This has simply been a marvelous display of affection, empathy, and generosity.
As of 6:57 pm Pacific Time, we are at $4,178.00, or almost 84% of the way to the finish line. A bit more push and we'll get there. Thanks again.
Update #2 - Monday, October 27th, 5:03 pm Pacific Time
We have met our fundraising target. Lori just posted a diary - Feel so near.... Below is a comment I made in her diary.
We are all delighted that after a nerve-racking, fifteen-months ordeal, you and Keir will soon embark on a new journey in your lives. The response by the Daily Kos community to your predicament was one that I will not forget very soon. It was, in a couple of words, positively astounding.
To all those who contributed in ways small and large, a sincere thank you. You exceeded any and all expectations we had when we made an appeal only a couple of days ago. Due to your efforts, the fundraising target was met this afternoon. If any of you had intended to make a contribution and weren't able to, you can still do so at Keir's GoFundMe page.
Finally, a message for you, Lori. As you prepare for positive changes in your life - and if at some future point encounter a few unexpected obstacles - remind yourself of how one of the great Romantic poets of the 19th century, William Wordsworth, felt when he took a walk along a lake over two hundred years ago and discovered a field of daffodils. Think of all the "dancing daffodils" as members of this community - ones who gave you so much joy and pleasure in times of difficulty and loneliness. They will always be there for you.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
|
You can read more about Lori's long struggle to bring Keir home in the diary she posted yesterday. This is a summary from Keir's GoFundMe page
Help Bring Keir Home
On August 26, 2013, Keir, 29, was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. After induction therapy and three brutal rounds of consolidation chemo, Keir was ready for a bone marrow transplant. On February 13, 2014, he received new bone marrow from an anonymous European donor. During this time, Keir had to spend about four months total as an inpatient in the hospital, and much time in isolation. Because our home was discovered to have black mold in the basement and kitchen, Keir had to move out and stay with his elderly grandparents in their home, along with his mom - me - his primary caregiver. Both of us had to quit working, which has made getting the home repairs done extremely difficult. Being separated from the rest of our family has also made this time exceptionally hard.
We are hoping to raise funds to purchase the materials needed to fix up our home - the drywall and flooring. We have removed the old walls and floor ourself, with the help of some volunteers, and now need to take the next steps to finish the job. Keir is doing well medically but still is not cleared to work, and and he wants to go home. He has fought so hard and we want to get his home fixed up so that he can - finally - resume his life - but we need some help to purchase the needed replacement materials. Keir's medical bills are approaching $2 million dollars, and though he has insurance, the bills are still daunting.
Keir has proven himself a formidable fighter and we are hoping the community will help him get back to his home and begin a new, healthy life.
Here's How You Can Help
- Please consider making a contribution, however small it is.
- Remember to rec and and tip this diary. The more exposure it gets, the better the chance we can reach our goal.
- Link the diary to your Facebook pages and if you're on Twitter, Tweet this call for help.
- Republish the diary to your Daily Kos Groups and tell your friends about this fundraising effort.
- Even if you're not in a position to make a financial contribution, do offer words of encouragement to Lori in comments.
|
PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY. Here's the DONATION LINK for Keir at GoFundMe.
I should point out that at my urging, Lori has raised the fundraising target a bit to $5,000.00. Reluctant as she was to ask for help in the first place, the amount initially requested was barely going to cover the necessary expenses. Anyone who has gone through a personal crisis knows fully well that all of us tend to always underestimate expenses and it doesn't hurt to have an extra cushion. Thanks for understanding. If you're unfamiliar with it, you can read more about what GoFundMe is and how it works. |
I hope that you look within your heart to contribute as much as you can. I am appealing to the better angels of your nature to do so as
every little bit helps. As detailed above, the goal of this fundraiser is to raise $5,000 for Keir. We presently stand at $2,040.00. If we could get close to the stated goal by tonight, that would be fantastic!
Please help Lori and Keir as much as your circumstances permit. If for some reason you are unable to donate through GoFundMe and would like to mail a check to her, please Kosmail Lori to get her mailing address.
Thanks again for your generosity now and in the past.