It's been a while since I posted any news about Ashley's liver transplant fund. After careful research and several phone calls to attorneys that went unreturned, we decided to move Ashley's liver transplant fund to COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association). Right now, we are in the process of filling out the paper work. As soon as that is complete and her account is open will post a link on this blog.
We decided to go with COTA for several reasons. The most important reason benefits the donors; all donations to Ashley's fund through COTA will be a tax deduction. We also like that COTA works with the United Way, that way you can donate directly to Ashley fund via your employer and the United Way. They also allow you to donate to Ashley's account online using credit card, debit card, etc. The process to donate to Ashley's account through COTA appears to be a lot easier than the American Liver Foundation.
COTA will also help train volunteers to handle the fundraising efforts for Ashley when the time comes. I know there is a big fundraiser planned at the end of the summer. Our hair stylist, Crystal Lackey, at ESBI International Salon in Oviedo is planning what sounds like big affair to benefit Ashley. Of course, I will post more about that as I learn more.
If you need a great haircut see Crystal or any of the great stylist at ESBI in Oviedo they are very talented and I have never seen anyone leave that Salon with a bad haircut. ESBI is located between Outback and LA Fitness on Mitchell Hammock. Just a plug for my favorite Salon.
Our fundraising efforts have calmed down lately and we are not receiving many donations but a few dollars do trickle in every now and then. If you want to help Ashley now and can't wait for the COTA account to be opened you can purchase one of her cookbooks, we still have about 17 left. We would love to sell all of her cookbooks by the end of June. They make great gifts for aspiring cooks, or just people who love to cook. Lots of ethnic and easy cook meals can be found in the cookbook. If you want to order a cookbook, please fill out the order form found here.
Our goal with Ashley's fund is to not only raise enough to cover a liver transplant but to give Ashley enough money to cover medical expenses when she is no longer covered under her dad's insurance. The reality is that Ashley will always require extensive medical care with or without a liver transplant. And someday Ashley will be without medical insurance because of her liver disease. It's a scary thought but that is our reality. This fund will provide Ashley with a financially secure future at least with regard to her medical expenses.
Honesty, I wish we didn't even have to open up a fund for Ashley, I wish we didn't have to ask for help from friends, family and perfect strangers but we do; we can't do this on our own. We were in denial for the first 8 years of Ashley's life and it cost us finanically. We should have been fundraising for Ashley's medical care as soon as she was diagnosed with her liver disease almost 11 years ago. Denial helps us cope but sometimes denial gets in the way of doing what is right.
ORGINAL POST:
In the last few months we have been made aware of some errors with Ashley's transplant fund with the American Liver Foundation. It is due to those errors and other reasons that we ask that you no longer donate to Ashley's fund with the American Liver Foundation. Currently, we are looking at opening a trust fund for Ashley with our local bank, Fairwinds Federal Credit Union. As soon as we find an attorney willing to handle the paper work for free, we will share that information with you. In the meantime, please donate to Ashley's trust fund using her PayPal link found above. Thank you.
We decided to go with COTA for several reasons. The most important reason benefits the donors; all donations to Ashley's fund through COTA will be a tax deduction. We also like that COTA works with the United Way, that way you can donate directly to Ashley fund via your employer and the United Way. They also allow you to donate to Ashley's account online using credit card, debit card, etc. The process to donate to Ashley's account through COTA appears to be a lot easier than the American Liver Foundation.
COTA will also help train volunteers to handle the fundraising efforts for Ashley when the time comes. I know there is a big fundraiser planned at the end of the summer. Our hair stylist, Crystal Lackey, at ESBI International Salon in Oviedo is planning what sounds like big affair to benefit Ashley. Of course, I will post more about that as I learn more.
If you need a great haircut see Crystal or any of the great stylist at ESBI in Oviedo they are very talented and I have never seen anyone leave that Salon with a bad haircut. ESBI is located between Outback and LA Fitness on Mitchell Hammock. Just a plug for my favorite Salon.
Our fundraising efforts have calmed down lately and we are not receiving many donations but a few dollars do trickle in every now and then. If you want to help Ashley now and can't wait for the COTA account to be opened you can purchase one of her cookbooks, we still have about 17 left. We would love to sell all of her cookbooks by the end of June. They make great gifts for aspiring cooks, or just people who love to cook. Lots of ethnic and easy cook meals can be found in the cookbook. If you want to order a cookbook, please fill out the order form found here.
Our goal with Ashley's fund is to not only raise enough to cover a liver transplant but to give Ashley enough money to cover medical expenses when she is no longer covered under her dad's insurance. The reality is that Ashley will always require extensive medical care with or without a liver transplant. And someday Ashley will be without medical insurance because of her liver disease. It's a scary thought but that is our reality. This fund will provide Ashley with a financially secure future at least with regard to her medical expenses.
Honesty, I wish we didn't even have to open up a fund for Ashley, I wish we didn't have to ask for help from friends, family and perfect strangers but we do; we can't do this on our own. We were in denial for the first 8 years of Ashley's life and it cost us finanically. We should have been fundraising for Ashley's medical care as soon as she was diagnosed with her liver disease almost 11 years ago. Denial helps us cope but sometimes denial gets in the way of doing what is right.
ORGINAL POST:
In the last few months we have been made aware of some errors with Ashley's transplant fund with the American Liver Foundation. It is due to those errors and other reasons that we ask that you no longer donate to Ashley's fund with the American Liver Foundation. Currently, we are looking at opening a trust fund for Ashley with our local bank, Fairwinds Federal Credit Union. As soon as we find an attorney willing to handle the paper work for free, we will share that information with you. In the meantime, please donate to Ashley's trust fund using her PayPal link found above. Thank you.
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