Many hands make light work....a plea for help

One thing I love about the blog/internet fiber community is how large and diverse it is. Many true friendships have been forged through this faceless medium. We have come together to help a lot of people. That's evident in all of the quilts we've made for veteran's, Joplin hurricane victims, homeless people in NYC and Sandy victims. I am writing today to tell you about a friend of mine who I met as a customer and fellow Etsy seller. I met Pamela over 2 years ago as a customer. She had some unusual special order fabric request and it was always fun to work with her to meet her needs. She has been ill since I first got to know her but has the most positive and fun attitude of anyone I know.

Pamela needs our help to raise the final $5000 of the $65,000 she needs to have a life-saving heart surgery in a few weeks. If she is unable to have that surgery her life will end. It's that simple. Yes, the surgery is considered experimental and, for that, I do not fault the insurance company  for not covering it.  Even if her insurance was provided by federal health care it still would not be a covered surgery. Society can't pay for everything. That's why we have "disposable income" to do with as we see fit and to fill needs that can't be filled elsewhere. Sometimes that need is a vacation or a new piece of fabric and sometimes it's the need to help a friend.

I am writing to ask you to help a fiber art friend. If 500 people donated just $10, she will meet her goal and have her surgery. She is so close! She is also selling jewelry and artwork that she has made. Please read her story and if you can, and are so inclined, please consider helping Pamela out. Her website is:

www.holdfastartworks.com

Thank you!

Here is Pamela's story:

     I am asking you to prayerfully consider helping this fellow Etsy artist out; with good thoughts, prayers, an email of support, a link on a website if you have one besides Etsy, a donation if you can…  You see, you may have noticed that you haven’t heard anything out of me this past year.  I found out just after my FIRST gallery show the Thanksgiving before last that I was seriously ill. Some of you know that I have CVID, well, they added heart failure to the menu.  In the months that passed and thru many tests we realized that a transplant is not an option for me.  HOWEVER, there was a surgery that my doctors felt would save my life and basically give me a normal life span but my insurance considers it experimental and will not pay for it.  My family and friends have spent the past 8 months scrimping and fundraising for me to have the surgery and we had it covered – so all arrangements were made and deposits put down and then a donor backed out and we find ourselves a little more than $5000 short.  My time has run out, if I don’t have the surgery now, the doctors will not ok me for it in the future as my heart is weakening too much, too fast.  And, if I don’t have the surgery now- all of our deposit money is lost and it becomes a no-go because we would not be able to make up those funds.  If I don’t have the surgery now (scheduled for Jan. 25)… I have 6-12 months left to live.
    I know ALL of us scrimp to craft and make art and live our lives.  But please… I have so many more quilts to sew and baubles to string and I have 2 grandgirlies that I want to see grow up.  If you can help in ANY way… won’t you please consider it?  I would love to be able to CONTINUE to be a good customer! LOL
If you would like to see more of my story – please visit www.holdfastartworks.com
I thank you f or your time.  I would be happy to list your website or Etsy site on my website for a  link back.  It is a small way to say thank you.
Not willing to give up the glue gun yet,
Pamela Gregan – of Just Hatched Quilts  now Hold Fast Artworks

Comments

[Andrea]

Just sent in a donation - thanks for making me aware of it!

[Sandra at Thistle Co]

Vicki, is there a place to send a check? I couldn't find an address but, as she's a client of yours, perhaps you'd know...?

[Gabriela Divine]

Just made a purchase fro Pamela's Etsy shop. Sending the link to my friends, too.

[pamela Gregan]

Thank you all so very much... I wrote a blog entry that I would like to share with you. http://www.holdfastartworks.com/#!hold-fast-wordworks-a-blog/c1l6g
Also there is now a button on the header that will lead directly to information on where to send checks and what to do if you would like to make a donation larger than $100. Isn't that a wonderful thing to think about on a fine Monday morning! Hugs to each of you...