United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Ok I'd like an opinion. At work today there was a fundraising booklet on the table that had a photo of a little girl in an arm brace. The note attached explained that the little girl had BPI(in a lot more words with out saying BPI) and that the family was selling items similar to a school or club fundraiser to help cover medical cost. It said that they had insurance but needed more money to cover all the cost. Is it me or is this extremely tacky?!? I have been rolling pennies for gas money to get to a doctors visit broke before and would never consider this. It reminded me when people hussel you for gas money. What do you all think? Would you or have you done something like this?

I don't think I would make a poster child out of my kid like that, but I can understand raising money if it meant you could do more for your kid. I had a friend who needed bone marrow transplant and it was expensive. Her friends got together and did bake sales, car washes, raffles, ran marathons, etc. - but, no, they didn't put her picture on a pamphlet...

When we had to take Ben to Texas for his first operation, yes insurance paid the surgery cost, but we had to come up with the money to get there, eat, and get around as necessary. We put out cans with Ben's picture on them and explaining why we were doing that. My husband was off of work due to a knee operation at the time and because I was running everyone everywhere else, I was unable to find a job that would agree to the hours I had free. We are lucky to live in such a wonderful town, the people were generous and wanted to know (and still ask constantly) how he is. I had friends who wanted me to sell candles to raise the money (probably would have, but didn't have the time) I don't see it as tacky, I see it as a family doing what they have to to get their child the help needed.

I have seen a lot of help from peoples churchs or friends of people, like hosting a breakfast or spaghetti dinner to benefit them , and also cans set up to collect change at counter tops.
(Being an Avon lady and Tupperware lady we have good fundraiser programs.) I dont think it is tacky..its not like they are raisng money to go on vacation to disney... our insurance paid for all but $1000.00 of the surgury, and SW gave us air fare. but we paid for a hotel... transportaion to/from airport...food..my time off work was unpaid.. and then the $1000.00 bill came in the mail! Its a Bummer!!

My family had a yard sale for us to raise money for the extra costs not covered by insurance. I don't think what this person did was tacky,it's despiration. I know I would do anything for my little guy to get the help he needed.

Yes, I would consider this. I pray I don't have too, but if it means giving Michael what he needs I hope my husband and I could look past our pride and focus on what is important. Giving our child every chance possible. It's easy to say, I could never... I will never... but when you are faced with no way out you will and can consider anything and fundraisers not only help the family in need, but it gives people who want to help a sense of fullfillment you can't find anywhere else but in helping other.

Patty

tacky is a very strong word here....i am very offended by that. not everyone has a wonderful job making sooo much money that they can just whip out mega bucks to pay for things. no one chose to have their baby injured, it was not a planned expence. i would do ANYTHING to make sure my baby would get the care she needed. if that means 'advertise' is, so be it. collecting for a medical reason is much different than 'hussling for gas money'. i pray to God that you never have to bring yourself so 'low' to make sure your child has the best.

I feel like it must have been a hard decision for the parents to do that but it also shows they will move mountains to get the child help. I think it shows courage to admit you can't do it alone.

We personally had to borrow the money from a family member or there was no way we could have gotten the surgery he needed. We were lucky that we had someone in the family who had the money....I would feel really bad for someone who had no other options left and I'd probably help hand out the flyers for them.

If you think about it how many people would waste a dollar to buy soda or cigarettes? If in a community each family contributed a dollar it could really help another family with expenses.

I hope and pray that family will be able to achieve their goal. Here in my city I've seen several times where a person dies or is killed and the family needs help. They open an account and publish the number asking for donations. It is the same concept.
T.

I personally don't think this is tacky. I think it takes a lot of humility to be able to ask for help -- esp. like that. I've considered doing some kind of a fundraiser in the past, but haven't had to yet. Thankfully, prayer has helped us enough to find resources from various sources so we haven't had to turn there. I've even considered approaching our congregation, but again, haven't had to do that yet. I say yet b/c who knows what may be down the road. I do feel though that if it meant getting medical help for my daughter that I could not otherwise afford, then I would certainly give it serious consideration.

On another note, are you a parent of a child with a BPI? If so, I hope that you will introduce yourself to the parents. Make sure they know about the resources here. Perhaps the family might be able to get medical assistance for their child that they don't know exists.

-Tina

I know we have scrimped and pulled together many pennies to get to where she needed to go. Forfeited paying a bill here and there, pleading and arguing with social workers, insurance companies, etc. If that is what it takes to get their child more power to them.

And even if you are not a BPI family--please leave a note with these web site addresses for the family so that maybe they can come here and get some more ideas, help and support. Just my opinion--can you imagine how very hard it was for that family to do that knowing there are those that would look badly at them for it?