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Have you done something good for someone else lately?

Pay It Forward was a great movie…I bawled like a baby, but still thought it was a powerful movie.

And it became a bit of a buzzphrase, a catchphrase to encompass anything that benefitted others.  Sort of overused to the point where “paying it forward” ceases to mean anything.

Yet, it’s a wonderful idea.  Why wouldn’t you want to take something good that is done for you and channel that effort into making someone else’s life a better place?

Come on! Aren’t you just aching for some feel-good-warm-and-fuzzies right this second?

Can you smell the ask coming on?  I never claimed to be subtle.

The summer after Peyton was diagnosed we had the most amazing fundraiser, so many friends came out to help and it touched us so deeply to see the community come out and support our daughter. Plus, no lie, we really needed that money, having a sick child requires some serious bank.

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(For real, Vader sent the troops out for her fundraiser…because we are just THAT cool)

It was such a relief to know that there was money put aside for her costs, all her meds, her copays (4 times a week ain’t cheap), the special food she craved, the gas to the hospital an hour away, the meals for a week inpatient…all of those things individually weren’t too bad, but they were adding up and UP and UP….and it hurt.

We were profoundly blessed by the many people who came out and made that day a success.  I cried more than a few tears at seeing God work wonders in our lives.

We have the chance to be that wonder for someone else.

I’ve known so many kids who’ve had fundraisers over the years we’ve been in this. Some I’ve shared and tried to get the word out…others I haven’t…there is always a fundraiser going and I never want to numb you to the seriousness of the need by constantly shoving your face in it.

This one is just particularly close to my heart.  This girl is family to us.  Her mother is like a sister to me.

Mandy is 8 years old and her life has never been average.  Even before her cancer diagnosis last spring she has been under medical care for a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis (cookie for the one who can pronounce THAT!).  In the easiest terms possible, Mandy’s body lacks a specific gene that you and I have that tells our body to NOT make tumors…and her body grew a malignant tumor in her brain, called an Optic Glioma.

That in itself is enough.  Enough to deserve the help anyone can give, enough to garner the compassion of any person who understands what it means to fear for your child and especially from those who are blessed to not have to.

But everyone knows this economy.  Everyone understands strain.

Just this week, Mandy’s father took a substantial pay decrease to keep himself in a job and with insurance.  Mandy’s mom had to quit her job as a teacher last year at the time of diagnosis to be a full time caregiver.

Times are tough for many.

These are beyond tough.

These are devastating.

So, that said…it’s time to pay it forward.

The local elementary school is allowing us to hold a fundraiser for Mandy’s family and I am hoping to be a part of making this day a blessing to the Willis family. Thanks to the generosity of some amazing friends, local and internet, auction items are being pledged (but we can use MOOORE if you have something to give and want to) and I know they will have a huge impact on the success of the event.

But I want to offer all of you an easy and simple way to help Mandy’s family.

If you look to the right of this post, in the first sidebar is a shiny new widget that says “Are you in My TopSpot?”  By clicking on that widget and for a $10 dollar donation, you can put your link on my site in the #1 spot….until someone else comes along and donates $10 and puts THEIR link in the #1 spot.

WHAT?  Who do they think they are?

You OWN that #1 spot.

And all you have to do to get it back is to donate another $10 and you are magically deliciously bumped back to the #1 spot.

Every penny goes to Mandy.

If you only donate once or you donate every day, that is an amazing gift to a little girl who doesn’t even realize the depth of her need, her brother and sister and her wonderful Mom and Dad who are trying so hard to make a normal life for them all.

Not good. Not outstanding.  Just normal.

In all honesty, and I’m going to do something that apparently flies in the face of the blogger’s covenant to never talk about “how many readers I have”….if each one you readers were willing to part with $10, we could put over $8-9000 in Mandy’s account. (Even if you don’t have a blog, you can put a link to another favorite site or to a site you’d like to bring to the spotlight)

SERIOUSLY!

For $10.  And you get a pretty shiny link. Haven’t you always wanted one?  Didn’t you ask your parents for one and they always said no? Well, Anissa is saying YES, you deserve that link now!  <–and I also promise to stop talking about myself in the third person.

So, that’s it.

Just donate for Mandy.

Oh, and this:

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After that, if you don’t give me $10 for Mandy I’ll tell everyone your heart is just made of stone.

10 Comments on “Have you done something good for someone else lately?”

  1. #1 Shawn
    on Feb 4th, 2009 at 10:55 am

    This community that I live in continues to make me proud! The people that I have come to know make my heart ache with their eager willingness to “do” for others.

    You, Anissa convict me to do more!

    I would donate even if I didn’t get a pretty shiny link!

    I will also donate a $75 gift certificate for a costum canvas for Mandy’s upcoming event. Call me so I can get it to you!

  2. #2 Karalyn
    on Feb 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Awesome idea!

    Karalyns last blog post..February 1,1996

  3. #3 Dan Cohen
    on Feb 4th, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    Hi Anissa,

    Does Princess Mandy have a CarePage or Caringbridge that I can follow and send messages?

    The pictures of above are priceless.

  4. #4 Ashley
    on Feb 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Man, where is everybody? I figured I would’ve been knocked way further down by now. C’mon people! 🙂

    Ashleys last blog post..My mom can squirt milk out of her boob.

  5. #5 Shawn
    on Feb 5th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Anissa

    I have loved following your blog since Natalie turned me on to it. I’m somewhat new to the whole thing and just received my first award today. I’m sure you know the drill, I have shared my award with you. Please visit my blog to “pick it up”.

    ~S

  6. #6 threeundertwo
    on Feb 7th, 2009 at 10:53 am

    All you have to do is ask. I’m here for you.

    Prayers for Mandy and her family.

    threeundertwos last blog post..Finished for Friday: Cutting My Right Arm Off

  7. #7 Natalie
    on Feb 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    I wish I had enough words to say thank you. But, I could list everything next to gratitude in the Thesaurus and it would still not be enough. So, thank you is all I have to offer. What it lacks in verbiage, it makes up for with sincerity.

    Well, that and my undying love and promises to never publish THOSE pictures I have of you.

    Love you darlin’. Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out to our family.

    Love,
    Natalie
    http://www.believeinmandy.blogspot.com

    Natalies last blog post..Weekend, Cliff Notes style

  8. #8 Natalie
    on Feb 9th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    I wish I had enough words to say thank you. But, I could list everything next to gratitude in the Thesaurus and it would still not be enough. So, thank you is all I have to offer. What it lacks in verbiage, it makes up for with sincerity.

    Well, that and my undying love and promises to never publish THOSE pictures I have of you.

    Love you darlin’. Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out to our family.

    Love,
    Natalie
    http://www.believeinmandy.blogspot.com

  9. #9 Cathy
    on Feb 16th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    GRRRRRRRR —- how come no one has knocked me out of the top spot ???? Come on people – open your hearts, open your wallets!!!

  10. #10 What would YOU do for a Klondike bar? | Hope4Peyton
    on Feb 16th, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    […] may remember that I recently talked about a fundraiser I’m helping to put on for our little friend Mandy Willis, who has a malignant brain tumor […]