I don't do this often. I know there are plenty of causes on the internet, and we all get caught up in them, so that after a while we can become almost immune. Worn out, drained. Struggling with guilt over not being able to give enough.
If you are feeling that way, it's ok. Not everyone can give every time. But perhaps you can let your friends know. Someone needs us, and as has been proven time and time again, the internet can be used for amazing things.
My friend Naomi, from Seven Cherubs is an amazing woman. I knew that pretty much the first day I read her blog, maybe a year or so ago. She is kind and gentle, loving and compassionate, wise and determined. And she has a friend, in desperate need of our help.
Her friend's name is Lisa. Lisa King. Lisa and her husband Aaron have 4 children - 4 little boys. Their second child Noah was born with a condition of the brain called Hydranencephaly. His prognosis was terrible, it causes severe mental and physical disability in cases as severe as Noah's. Sadly, in October, he passed away just after turning 10.
As a mother, I can only imagine what that feels like. Alexander is almost 9 and the thought of him being gone is breathtakingly painful. The thought of somehow carrying on...unthinkable.
But not as unthinkable as this. On Australia day, very suddenly, Lisa's fit, 39 year old husband Aaron died (this link is the post written by Aaron's best friend, Lisa's brother. He was there when it happened and his grief is palpable). It seems he had a heart attack. Now 3 little boys are left, still reeling from the loss of their brother, now trying to come to terms with the fact that Daddy isn't coming home either. And Lisa. Lisa has to get up every day and cope with losing two of the most important people in her life. Two people she lost within less than 4 months of each other!
I don't know what their situation re Insurance is. I hope that they will be fine. But these things take time. They've yet to pay for a headstone for Noah's grave, and now they have to pay for a second funeral. They have bills to pay, mouths to feed, the normal minutiae now made more impossible by the loss of their sole income.
So, after a couple of inquiries, Naomi has set up a donation page for anyone who feels that they can help Lisa and the boys out. Any small amount helps, it all adds up. In only 24 hours, the goal of $10000 has nearly been reached.
It would be wonderful if any of you could help them get there, or even further. The page is here (in less than an hour since I was able to donate, we've gone over the $10 000 mark. The new goal is $15000. Remember, they're paying not just for a funeral, but the every day living expenses they will have until insurance money finally trickles its way down.
All photos taken from http://lisajking.blogspot.com/
