Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Life-Giving Love

" The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things.
But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."
-Mother Teresa

It's been a long time since we had to say no...

We often have children on our waiting lists, but in the past we knew that it was only a matter of time before a bed would open and they'd come to join our ever-growing family. But now it's a little different... Our surgery funds are severely depleted, and though we're waiting on some grant applications to be decided, right now they are all still pending.

So when we got a call last week about 2 little girls who needed heart surgeries, we had to say no... And its the hardest thing we've done in a while.


Losing a baby after they've had their surgery is tragic, but its even worse when a child never gets a chance. We're hopeful that this "no" is really "wait a while," but until our surgery fund is replenished, we will not be able to bring in more complex cases. And it's the children with complex cases that need surgery the most! Children like Cora and Robert and Chase and Debra; they are the ones whose only physical chance for survival hinges on their ability to get surgery, and the only way they'll get surgery is if we help them!  And those are the ones who you already know and love!  Just think about how many still wait...


So friends, we're calling for your help. The other day, you raised the money needed to send our kids on a field trip in less than 24 hours. What if we dreamed a bit bigger? What if we called upon you, our online community, to save a life? A heart surgery costs between $5,000-$10,000 here in China. What if you worked together to give a child the life-saving surgery they need? What if you gave 3 or 5 children their surgeries?

So here is my challenge... can you, by May 1, raise funds to pay for one complicated heart surgery? Let's make it personal... How about Kiah's? Can you work together to raise $8,000 to pay for her VSD and ASD surgery?


She's worth it, don't you think?

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Wanna help? Here's what you can do:
  • Give to our surgery fund.  Designate Kiah's name if you want it to go towards this 'lil collaborative effort.
  • Visit our surgeries needed page and take a look at the other children who need operations. Maybe someone else will jump out at you; perhaps your church, school, business, or community organization will want to 'adopt' a child's surgery.
  • Post about this on your blog. Twitter about it. Share it with your facebook friends.  Tell your MOPs group.  Invite others to join you in meeting this challenge.
  • Have an idea of a way to spread the word or raise funds for this cause? Send your ideas to carrie@newdaycreations.com.
I'll keep you updated on our progress!!

We don't normally use the blog for fund raising... and I promise that's not what it's going to turn into. But we just had to turn away two babies and that's heartbreaking. So heartbreaking, in fact, that we're changing our tactics a bit and asking for your help.

8 comments:

  1. Oh the heart babies...you got me!!! I wish there was some way these two little darlings could just be sent straight to me! I've been approved in my homestudy for them and everything! :) I'll help get word out about the need for surgery funds, and be lifting everyone at New Day up in prayer...as well as these two little sweeties that can't be taken right now.

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  2. You got me on board too!! Those heart babies have my heart strings! I will try to do some fund raising locally and definitly make a donation personally. I will also be praying for the little one's that had to be turned away. We know the Provider that can open the financial doors to get exactly the care they need. He is more than able to do just that!!

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  3. oh Carrie. Some days I think my heart will surly just shatter. And yet, there is HOPE.
    And while it would be easier to close my eyes and pretend I didn't know this great need and the fact that children have been turned away because of lack of funds, I KNOW.
    I see the faces of the little ones in orhpanges in Eastern EU with HIV in my sleep.
    I wish sometimes I didn't know. But I KNOW.
    And the struggle is...how do I help them all? How can I save them? If I gave away EVERY dollar my husband earns it would still NOT BE enough. So who do I give to and who do I turn away? You understand that, don't you?
    And the other side is- I can't save them all...the problem is too great....so do nothing.
    BOTH ARE WRONG! The ONLY way I have found peace is to acknowledge that Christ ALONE can save and that through little old me...He works to bless.
    I cannot save them all. You cannot save them all. He hasn't asked us to. He's only asked us to share a bit out of our abundance (even when it doesn't feel very abundant!!) and as a BODY of believers...when we ALL do our parts...THEN...a child's life is saved. ONE life at a time...but it takes all the parts working together!
    Isn't God cool?
    I will share.
    love,
    Holly

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  4. Just ask and you shall receive....I wish I could give more! I wish I could give you all the money you need to give these kids a chance! I know what I can give is not much....just a drop in the bucket, but I know if we all give a little, we can do it!

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  5. Praying ... and I will post about this fundraiser on my blog. We are currently in the hospital with our little guy, he has had some complications after having TOF surgery. However, I would love to give and help out so I will talk to my husband and in the mean time, I will be praying that the Lord brings the money to help precious Kiah. Prayer moves mountains, it has especialy in the case of our son!
    Blessings,
    Robyn

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  6. Carrie!
    I AM PRAYING!!!!! I am also going to do everything I can to get the word out. If everyone gave just a little bit these could happen easily!!!!! We don't have much but we will give what we can!
    Shannon

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  7. Thank you for letting us know- we can't do anything if we don't know! We know your hearts form "Getting to know you" by reading this blog. We know this isn't about the money- it's about the KIDS! And, we're with you- having to turn away kids is heartbreaking, and we'll do whatever we can to help!!!!!!!

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  8. Also......you may want to sk people to check to see if their company has a "matching gifts" program. We just realized my husband's company has this, and since you all are a 501 (3) (c) (right?), you are eligible. So, I'm in the process of figuring out how to get them to match all our donations to New Day! Just something worth mentioning to people!!!

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