Bake Sales are Coming!

I'll be doing a bake sale at school on the 3rd and running until the 18th. The Smalls from my church Journey will be helping with their delecious cookies check them out http://nymcookies.com/default.aspx As a treat we're giving "samples" at the staff meeting and then people may purchase whatever they may choose. All the profits I recieve go 100% to the Non-profit (which right now is the fund!) as we get funds together to start up in Janurary! I'll also be making cake pops from www.bakerella.com with the spirit of Christmas. 100% of those proceeds go to the fund! I'm really excited but kind of overwhelmed! I'm hoping this goes well enough that other people decide they want to host and the deliciousness for a good cause spreads!!

Here's info on what we're going to be doing and why we're doing it:

Some of you know about our Angel Avery. He was born on April 14th and unexpectedly passed away on July 30th 2009. From conception Avery dealt with gastroschisis, a disease that affects one out of every 2000 babies born in North Carolina. During development, a fetus’s stomach forms outside of the body and then draws inside. With gastroschisis babies, the stomach doesn’t make it back into the body.

I’m not here to talk about myself and my baby. I’m here to tell you all about the need of hundreds and thousands of parents and babies in our State, our Nation and Globally. Currently there is no established center for research and care of these babies. Gastroschisis is diagnosed in the first 4-5 months of pregnancy. So parents are dealing with the stress of the unknown for 4-5 months after diagnosis and natalyl from anywhere for a month to 9 months while their babies are being operated on. Jared, my fiancé referred to this period as “they’re trying to fix his pluming. Getting Mr. Potato Head’s parts all together.” And the NICU environment is a very complicated place for parents to be parents.

Nothing is known about the causes of this disease. 10-20 years ago, only 10-5% of these babies survived. The success rate is definitely looking much better, but again, the causes of the disease remain a mystery and the numbers continue to increase. North Carolina heads what the medical community calls “the gastroschisis belt,” which consists of a number of south-eastern states that are experiencing a rise in the disease. UNC Chapel Hill treats 98% of all Gastroschisis cases born in North Carolina. It is our belief that there is no better medical facility to have the first Gastroschisis Center for Research and Care. We hope to provide for research into the causes and care for these babies. We also immediately can be providing care and support for thousands of babies and their families as they embark or go through this very scary journey.

On average in the NICU at UNC Chapel Hill there are 2 babies a month going through gastroschisis care and many other cases in-vitro with the high-risk pregnancy unit. I’m hoping this non-profit will be the corner stone in a national and global movement to provide care, support and research to all gastroschisis families and babies. We have to start somewhere, and with North Carolina being the state where one out of every 2000 babies born with the disease demands this be the starting point. The hope is that we will be able to spread with the gastroschisis national number being one out of every 5000 babies.

I’m hoping that this small non-profit will grow into a global community, similar to the breast cancer, cancer and other movements. We have to start somewhere, and I refuse to bury my son and my hope. Avery’s life will not be in vain; it is my daily motivation to have Avery be the life-line for millions of other babies.

We have much to accomplish. We need money for research, money for support, and money for families. During pre and neo natal care, these families incur commute expenses, medical, as well as everyday bills while they take time from work. There is also the need to help some of the more unfortunate families be able to afford funeral services, an expense that no family ever plans for.
Long term we plan to petition our State Government to build North Carolina’s first and only free-standing Children’s hospital. Currently the state does not have one, there are only wings and floors of hospitals, like Brenners, UNC and WakeMeds new facility. The care of children and babies is much different than those of a 40. 50 or 80 year old patient. It is very challenging to have this care successfully provided for by a hospital that provides care to the general public. Other states that have Free-Standing Children’s Hospitals have rooms that are big enough to accomotate the children’s parents, common areas for families and children to gather. And this is only a part of the need for our sick children and babies. I encourage everyone to research the Children’s hospital of Texas, Pittsburg and others. Again, an ICU unit in a general hospital provides the same care as an ICU unit for a 30-80 year old adult.

As you can see there is many different facets that this foundation will be involved in. The money raised by the bake sale and donated will help get this establishment running and provide a first step. The need is great.
We are 100% non-profit so all donations and funds are precious. Thank you for your time. The cookies are provided by Not Your Mama’s Cookies, and the portion that I receive, 100% goes to the non-profit. 100% of all the Cake Pop orders go to the foundation. If you have any further questions please email me at meghanhall07@gmail.com