Today, I'm writing as a friend, not a congressional candidate. My 9 year old daughter's close friend, Rianna, has a rare combination of illnesses that have pushed her parents close to financial ruin. Rianna suffers from a chronic kidney condition. She has only one kidney and it has partial function. Due to repeated infections, her kidney can become quickly weakened, putting her in medical danger. She has a condition called occult filum terminale syndrome. It is this combination of rare conditions that cause her to need on-going medical intervention. She is currently in need of costly daily medications and therapy that go above and beyond the cost of what their insurance will cover. One 10 day dose alone cost $1400 for the copay.
Friends of the family are hosting a community rummage sale to help defray costs of new medications and therapy. Rianna's parents, Deb and Jerry, and her two young siblings have gone through their house and have put many of their own things up for sale in hopes of paying for the much needed items. Our families have decided to take on a long needed decluttering project and have added quite a few of our own things.
We are reaching out to our own friends, families, colleagues and community networks asking for donations for the rummage sale. If you have any items you no longer want or need from around your house we would be grateful to accept them and put them in the sale. We are willing to accept anything that you think is sellable including clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, household/kitchen items, etc... Additionally, if there are any services or products (i.e. haircuts) you would like to donate for us to sell at the sale we would be happy to include those also. Gift cards, gift certificates and cash donations will also be very appreciated.
Also, we would be grateful if anyone in Austin has a little extra time to sort, price items ahead of time or to assist at the rummage sale. Any garage sale expertise that anyone could offer on how to have everything run smoothly would also be greatly appreciated.
The rummage sale will be on Saturday, July 25th, at Jen and Walt Baum's home, 9104 La Siesta Bend, 78749, in southwest Austin.
We are hoping to receive donations between now and the day of the sale.
Please pass this along to anyone you think might also want to participate in this community effort. Your support is very much appreciated!
Please feel free to contact Walt or Jen Baum at jsandwl@austin.rr.com or 512-917-4624 to make arrangements to drop off donations.
Thank you for helping our friends.
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Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
512-799-0626 cell
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