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Simple Kindness is Humbling

Since we found out that Ashley will indeed need a liver transplant sooner rather than never, we have been blessed with the help and generosity of others. It's amazing how many people care about Ashley, care about us. When we started fundraising for Ashley we were certain that not many people would donate. However, with the help of my dad's cousin in California, Ashley transplant fund with the American Liver Foundation got off to a good start. We still haven't reached our goal of $75,000 with that fund but $20,000 is a good start.

Originally, we planned to just raise funds for Ashley's liver transplant but recently we have discovered that we need to raise funds to cover her current medical costs. It's these costs that cause our finances to be tight now. Therefore, we started to think about ways to make money now and contribute it to Ashley's health care now. The Cookbook Fundraiser is just one of the ideas we have to help us with the current medical bills and health care needs. There will be many more fundraisers planned in the future.

There are so many people that have just simply given us money, told us to spend it however we choose. People that have sent money to Ashley's liver transplant fund that have never met Ashley or us. People that have organized fundraisers for Ashley, from the cookbook to garage sales to bake sales. Not to mention all of those people who have submitted recipes for Ashley's first ever cookbook. Surprisingly, more strangers have donated to her cause than family and friends. However, we have had friends (you know who you are) that have given us a large sum of money to help keep Ashley in dance. Their generosity will pay for two months of dance and help us buy new jazz shoes for Ashley to wear at her first dance competition next week.

Relying on the kindness of strangers, family and friends to make Ashley's fundraising a success is very difficult for us. We have a hard time asking for help and feel that we alone should be able to provide for our family. However, over the last year, we have learned to ask for help. And we have learned the simple kindness of others is a very humbling experience; an experience we appreciate very much.

Thank you, the Johansen's

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