Monday, January 4, 2010

Push now!!

We only need $350 for our domain name thanks to the timeless and enduring work of Herb Ritcher!!! Please contact me on how to donate and helping us unite our thousands of families here in NC, our nation and the globe!! We are well on our way to providing the most comprhensive medical information and support for our families!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!


- Contact me at meghanhall07@gmail.com to get involved or more info about Avery's Angels

MUCH new hope!!

Dear friends!

We have had just a wealth of help and support come in for the New Year. We have officially acquire, thanks to Herb Richters, Grandfather of Angel Amara from CA, the domain averysangels.org! This will be our support site for families. There will be a wealth of information about families in your area who can supply support for gastroschisis as well as professional support and other resources!

I meet with the medical staff at UNC the end of this month for content for the medical portion of the site. There will be a ton of information that we collect for all stages of gastroschisis from diagnosis to care paths to home resources. Everything you can possibly ever need will be posted on the site.

We have a Twitter account- 4gastroschisis we have Facebook pages and causes: Avery's Angels NPO. Look them up! Join them and spread the word!!! I'm looking to create a list serve for families to know our progress and get ideas and information and support!

We also have a bank account through Wachovia informally until we are officially registered! It had to be filed under my name but the title is Meghan Hall Avery's Angels. We will be able to post a link to donate directly online.

We still desperately need the following:

$500 for our domain name gastroschisis.org PLEASE donate to this cause! It is so so so needed! We have the medical community ready to post information that will be a comprehensive site for our families to know what to expect at all stages of gastroschisis as well as medical support.

Families to join and support us! please pass along our information! We can do so much to support families right now! I want to start a listserv to get peoples information, what they would like to see us be able to do and supply to them, any suggestions. Get the word out!

A CPA- as I have stated before, our funds are very very limited but we are offering a permanent position on our board. I need someone who is committed to helping and serving the families here and all over our nation and world.

$2000+ is our fund raising goal for the first 3 months (so by March.) That will go towards the purchase of our domain name, all of our legal and fiscal responsibilities as a NPO and filing for NPO status as well as nationally! We also will begin to provide care and support to families who are currently undergoing gastroschisis repair at any major hospital. Hopefully we can get our paperwork through and start getting our support to families everywhere. Through just our recent work we are realizing how global this effort needs to be. As I have said, Angel Amara's family is on the west coast and have contacted me. As soon as our NC chapter is up for Avery's Angels, I have to start sending Herb support to start a chapter in CA, and as soon as our website starts linking our large community, the need will spread fast.

Donating a Laptop-this sounds funny, but I don't currently have a home computer. I have been emailing, posting and searching all from my cell phone. My college computer has died and we currently aren't in a position to run out and spend $300-$1000 on a laptop. So if you'd like to donate a working one with wireless Internet capabilities, I would be deeply indebted.

There's no limit to what we can do! We're building a foundation to be here for as long as the disease exists. I won't stop. I buried my son but I won't bury his hope.....

I do plan on sending receipts or official thank yous once we have our NPO status. That way if you can't claim your donation officially this tax season (and you have until April 15th to file and so do we!) you can claim it next go 'round. I have been trying to write thank you's to all donations currently.

Immediate goal is getting the paper work through and the domain! Contact me any time 24-7 to help!
meghanhall07@gmail.com



Sunday, December 27, 2009

Facebook Causes and Groups!

Please join us on facebook under our causes and group; Avery's Angels

We need to mount support on all fronts to let people know that we are creating this and making actual progress on our front. There have been so many people all over the country to actually reach out for help and give us encouragement to keep up the effort.

So help us recruit to raise funds, awareness and get people plugged in and develop research.

So facebook, blog, twitter (4gastroschisis)......please help us get this going!

I'm going to post anther mass email here in a few days to send out to your friends, family and cohorts! Our needs are changing daily.....but the funding remains the same!

Any creative endeavors for fundraising ideas please contact me ASAP! Any involvment to start up support in other states, please contact me!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

We're on Twitter!

At the Hospital's recommendation we are on Twitter! Follow us for updates at 4gastroschisis!

Met with Cutler to cover NPO info! Much to do! +$500 for filing for npo status and +$500 for domain name! Ideas for donations and fundraising are welcome! We need $1500 to get to our families.

Please pray for the family of Herb; he is a grandpa to a wee lass who just went to heaven due to gastroschsis complications.

This is why this important! We need this done, we have to get this done, we can get this done!!

The holidays are bitter sweet. I keep turning my head and looking in the back seat, imagining waht it would be like if there was a car seat with a wee laddie smiling back at me. I miss him so.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Time to Hope

Hey friends-

Just wanted to pause for a second to remind you all to be thankful for what you have. And even what you don't have. Don't worry about what you cannot control, do not worry with the past because it's done, do not worry with the future because it's coming whether you're ready and wanting or not. Rest calm that all falls from the fingers of our Lord and He knows and guides our steps and walks before us. This winter don't think of things that you're missing, you're lacking, you've lost. Think on things that you do have. Hope for the future and be the answer you ask Him to produce.

Reach out and love all that are around you. Do nothing to cause your brother to stumble, realize that you never know which brother that maybe. Do you really want to know how far your ripples go?

I know it would be nice if we could all just pretend that it's not our problem or fault, and just go about minding our own, but if that was truly the case then the next time you find yourself offended by another then don't ask "why."

Raise your children to be upstanding, sensative and compassionate people. Want better for them than yourself. Engage them in all ways, nothing breaks my heart more than to see moms and dads in their cars on their cell phones while their children dream off into the window or play on some video game. Or be on the phone while they're out with their children. You don't know how blessed you are, and you don't know how many different need and moments you need to connect with your children. If you find yourself requiring more "breaks" than desiring more time with your children, invest in birth control (which is also free if you apply and get medicaide) and stop having them. You don't know when you have an embarrasment of riches and without knowing are flaunting them infront of the hundreds of us that don't have........ripples my friends.

Forgive when ever you can. Let go and move forward. Bind it to God and let it be His work.

Do not look towards man to make the place you live livable. If you seek change then be the change, volunter, get involved. Politicians have a living to make, and like the dirt from which they are created, the truths of man shall crumble and return to the dirt from which it was created. Government, especially ours, is no creation of God, it will not stand, but our hearts and souls and His truth lives and can set the world on fire and make the diffenece you seek. Look not towards what man can do, but what God can do through you. Our government starts in the home anyways, so be as "for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord," and watch the movement.

Love and laugh fully and often. Give give give of yourself and your money. You can't take it with you. And what truly is the value of a sports car to the value of thousands of people who could eat or have clean water for days. What can you answer for if the King came today?

I'm excited for the new year. I know the NPO will be up and running. Please help if you can, we can impact the lives of so many survivors, expecting families and families being affected now. There are thousands here and all over the globe. If you can please give anyway you can.

Here's again a reminder of ripples; one adult donation of blood or plasma saves 12 babies. If you can't give anything else........

Love to you and yours. Enjoy the sparkle in your children's eyes.....you don' t know how blessed you are.

God you are amazing, you are holy. The things you move me to do, the friends you have sent me, the man that I have in my life. I look and there is no where that I do not see your face. I love you so much and rely on you completely. Help me to give over my burdens and worries completly to you and serve you better. Provide us with the joy that Jared and I so desire. We wait on your timing, we ask only that you grant us our sincerest wish for a child soon. We turn over the worry, the wait and the obsession to you. I thank you daily for the amazing love and faithfulness you give me in Jared. Thank you for him and our love. Please continue to watch over us and strengthen our bond. Grant us your Mercy from the ache of our son who lives with you, our ache for the desire of another, our worry over finaces. Grant us peace that you provide and fill us up daily. Thank you for the everyday blessings we forget to thank you for. Guide us to be more receptive to your bidding and desires. Make us better people in your glory.
Through you and by you are all things possible.
We ask these in your Son Christ's holy name.
Amen
Love,
Meghan

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

NPO Creation Push EMAIL! PLEASE READ!

Dear Friends-

This email is a bit longer but I need the help so please read it when you have the time! It concerns the NPO I'm trying to start in Avery's honor, so it deserves a wee bit of your time!

As some of you know I've been frantically trying to get funds together for my to-be-official NPO "Avery's Angels" to establish the first Gastroschisis Center for Research and Support. I have families now who need the help and support and I'm at a stand-still because I can't get to them, because we don't have the funds.

We had a very impromptu "bakesale" of www.nymcookies and my cake pops last Weds that generated around $100 from just my school. So the ball is rolling.....but I need help badly!

The need is urgent and great. My inbox is full daily from families, now the national medical community as well as the UNC Hospital to get this going. The doctors need it, the medical teams need it, the families of current and expecting gastroshcisis babies need it as well as "survivors." I also have to tell you, unfortunately, I've been in contact with several families who have "angels" and their need for a place to get answers and support.

My goal is to get Avery's Angels recognized as an official NPO before the start of the New Year. I know that maybe ambitious, but with babies now, babies coming and those who are searching so hard, I can't make it any more urgent than it already is.

Here's where I desperately need help.
1) I have to raise $500-$1000 to file for NPO status. (Frustrating for me because I would much rather that go to research or families.) But in order for the IRS to not come after me and to also be able to get larger sponsors, I have to have official NPO status. If you know of any wealthy patrons who would be willing to contribute or help, or if you yourself can give any that would be so very helpful. We have around $100 so far.

2) I need a CPA and Lawyer who are committed to serving a good cause and won't be after the money. I obviously won't have that much to offer currently, and I'd rather not the headache of that monetary distraction/stress as we proceed forward. I'm not saying they have to necessarily be Pro-bono, but so long as they're committed to helping first and making money second, then great.

3) A webdesigner who can do an amazing professional website. I really want to purchase the www.gastroschisis.com domain, which will take some serious funds. (I may settle for gastroschisis.org) I don't want to just throw up just another webpage. God bless all the little factions of gastroschisis people out there, but when you're struggling for answers, yes, it's comforting to know there are others out there but you're really seeking to find concrete and reliable answers.There's no concrete website out there that provides all the information, comprehensively, for support, research, and medical information that's run by a credible source. UNC has agreed to help maintain the medical portion of the site. I need a website to be maintained on several levels; 1) medically speaking, which UNC has agreed that they will help with providing the information and getting any updates 2) a place to donate to research (I know some people would probably just like to be part of this) 3) for support for families through volunteers and veteran and fellow families. So dates for events, ways to contact, stories, etc. and 4) a place and a way for people all over the world to donate to Avery's Angels, sponsor or get involved.

I know times are tough, which is another reason our need is so great. I know that requests for funding is coming from everywhere. I can't tell you how much of an immediate affect this will have though. However, even suggestions and pointers will help at this point.

Please forward this email to anyone whom you think maybe helpful! You can contact me at, meghanhall07@gmail.com, after an initial email I will be willing to offer my phone number! To get more information at angelaverysmommy.blogspot.com

I can also send out the document with our brochure/flier. I am absolutely willing to have copies made and sent to whomever you may recommend or to have on hand. Please let me know the amount and the address.

Thank you all for your time and enjoy the special season.
Love and blessings
Meg

Monday, December 7, 2009

Avery's Angels NPO Creation Push!

Hey friends-

I have an official flier now for all who want to start distributing. Now is a great time to get donations in! Here's what I need help with:

-I need a sponsor BADLY who will help me come up with the $500-$1000 it's going to take to get just the official NPO status. *I'm not happy about raising funds to get the government to recognize the organization officially and make it so that the IRS doesn't come after me, but it has to be done.....so I'm learning to deal with it.* So if you know any wealthy people (sorry to so blunt!) who would love to help get this started that would be AWESOME!

-I also need a CPA and lawyer who's hearts are in it for a good cause and won't be in it for the money. I cannot, again, I cannot afford on my TA salary to pay someone uber amounts of money. But the need for this is very great. So if there's someone who you know who's passion is helping others and would like to fill this need then PLEASE contact me.

-Expert/professional webdesigners. I don't want to just throw up just another webpage. God bless all the little factions of gastroschisis people out there, but when you're struggling for answers, it's comforting to know there are others out there but you're scrambling to find concrete and reliable answers.

I need a website to be maintained on several levels; 1) medically speaking, which UNC has agreed that they will help with providing the information and getting any updates 2) a place to donate to research (I know some people would probably just like to be part of this) 3) for support for families through volunteers and veteran and fellow families. So dates for events, ways to contact, stories, etc. and 4) a place and a way for people all over the world to donate to Avery's Angels, sponsor or get involved.

These are our first steps. I know no one knows me personally but I want to assure you, I have only a few intentions on this earth 1) to serve my Lord and Savior as He calls me 2) to love my Jared unconditionally, and have beautiful family with him 3) bring hope to those who need it by making my son's life not be in vain and that would be by a- getting Avery's Angels to provide real information, support and funding for research for families to have less "angels" and more "Averys" as well as b- getting the parking deck issue at UNC Hospitals resolved.

I can be reached 24-7 via email at meghanhall07@gmail.com

We need to push. It's my dream to have the paper work in and filed so that we can be a valid and recognized NPO by Jan 1st. We have families now that need the support, and more on the way. I feel the time ticking and I know that it's another day without.

So money, CPA, Lawyer and Webdesigner.

Love and blessings
Meg