Rush Tags

I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO FL. BY DRIVING BECAUSE I HAVE MY DOG'S WHICH ARE LIKE MY KIDS THAT MUST GO WITH ME.
ANYWAY ABOUT 4MO.'S AGO I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET FAMILY ON MY FATHER'S SIDE THAT LIVE IN FT. PIRCE FL. THAT I NEVER KNEW THAT I HAD, AND MY 2 GIRLS THAT HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME FOR ABOUT 15YR.'S .
NOW SOME WHERE AROUND 30YR.'S AGO MY FIRST WIFE AND I SPLIT UP, AND I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THEM FOR THE LONGEST.
SO WHILE THAT WAS GOING ON I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER SEE THEM AGAIN , AND I MADE A REALLY BAD CHOSE, AND THAT WAS DOING DRUGS , THEFT SCAMS ,AND ROBING PEOPLE.
WELL I WAS VERY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THAT LIFE BEFOR I GOT COUGHT BY THE LAW(keywords by the law)NOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS YOU MIGHT WANT TO HELP , AND THAT IS OK TO BUT I DO WANT TO HELP ANY AND ALL BY TELLING YOU THAT ANY TIME SOMEONE ASK YOU TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT SOTHEY CAN HELP YOU DERICT , " DO NOT DO IT" BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SET UP SOME KIND OF SCAM .
AS YOU SEE THERE IS A PAYPAL BUTTON RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM , SO DON'T GET COUGHT UP IN A RUSH AND GET COUGHT IN THE SCAM.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW, DON'T GET COUGHT UP IN IT.
WHEN I CHANGED MY LIFE I WENT WHERE I KNEW I COULD FIND THE RIGHT KIND OF HELP, AND THAT WAS CALVERY CHAPEL COASTA MASE CALF. WHERE PASTOR CHUCK SMITH SHOWED ME HOW. 1ST. I QUITE THE DRUGS AND STEALING FROM PEOPLE, THEN I LEARNED HOW TO SERVIE OTHERS WITH WHAT I CAN DO EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE MONEY.
SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS MAYBE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. I CAN NOT BE SCAMED IN TO OPENING BANK ACCOUNTS SO SOMEONE CAN TRY AND RIP ME OFF.
NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME PLEASE TRY AND UNDERSTAND I REALLY DO WANT AND NEED THE HELP, AND I AM WILLING TO GIVE TO YOU PROOF ON WHAT THE MONEY IS SPENT ON ,HOW MEANY ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.
WHAT I NEED IS A BETTER CAR AND THE GAS TOGO OUT TO FL. THE COST OF THE CAR IS ABOUT $10,000.oo, THEN I WOULD NEED GAS CARD FOR GAS OUT TO FL. AND BACK HOME.
NOW I DON'T EXPECT JUST ONE PERSON TO GIVE ME THAT MUCH , BUT AS YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY PENNY'S MAKE DOLLARS, AND IF YOU STILL WOULD LIKE HELP SOMEONE THAT IS WILLING TO GIVE PROOF!!!! THEN PLEASE FILL FREE TO TRY ME, AND I AM WILLING TO SHOW YOU THE PERSON THAT I SAY I AM.

A few days ago I was was asked to attend some last minute university interviews, I planned a trip in a rush with what little money I had, borrowing the majority of it.

Due to a couple of travel and financial planning slip ups I've found myself with £20 left to survive until Thursday and stuck without transport in Derby on Wednesday (I need to make it on to York and then Leeds-Bradford airport in order to make it back home to Belfast). Even then I've no money to pay for my hostel bed in York on Wednesday night.

So I'm hoping some of you will be kind enough to give me what ever you can in order to help ensure that I can get to where I need to be in order to get home, and perhaps eat whilst I'm here. otherwise I'm going to be stuck in England with nowhere to go for the foreseeable future.

First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your day to
read this. You don't even have to do that, but you are, and I really
appreciate that. Let me also tell you that I take responsibility for

everything that has happened to me. You see, I'm a college student, and like
many college sophomore's, I get into a lot of situations that get me into a

heat of water. Unfortunately, all these situations happened to happen all
that thee same time. It started last thursday. My roomate was having a
little party at our apartment. The music was loud which resulted in the

police getting called over. We were given a noise violation for $142. The
very next morning, I was running late for class, so I took my car on campus.
I was in such a rush that I didn't realize that I parked in a no parking

zone. It was only a 50 minute class, but by the time I got back, I got to
witness them towing my car away. That came out to be $150 and $5 is added

everyday, so at the day of this writing, I need $170 to get my car out of
the impound. I also have a $425 rent that I have to pay before the 15th or I
will evicted. I would go to my parents, but my mom is on her last

unemployment checks, and the company that my dad works for is in a legal
dispute, and for some reason they are witholding their employees checks.
I've have tried every option I could think of. I went to friends, but
college students don't have much as it is. I went to my financial aid

counselor, but they said it was too late in the year to pull out any loans
or anything. I have no job, so I can't get a payday loan. I believe that
this could be my last option, but God allowed me to find this site for a
reason. Once again I appreciate the time you took to read this, and I hope
that you can help.

Please Please Please help me to raise the funds to move to Prague. I am from a dead end city that has been cut off and doesn't receive any funding at all to regenerate, this was an issue even before any recession. I have thought about moving to my countries capital London but the costs are just ridiculous and i can not afford to. The cost of rent is really really overpriced, utilities and travel are also sh*t and overpriced. It is at least half the price to up sticks and move abroad to one of my favourite places Prague. The fairytale bohemian city, for all donations visit here http://nsffund.blogspot.com/
Donations will be gratefully received and Im sure you'll get good feeling warm hearted rush for your kindness.
As I have been there a small number of times and I know my way around pretty well already. Navigation around the city will be no problem. Hip hop culture seems to be popular and there is a fashionable urban dress code that I find very amusing, with many people dressed like some Newyork G. I am sure the price to see a footy match will be at least half the price, travel and utility services twenty time better. All I need is living costs, rent for a month and relocation costs (the cost of a one way flight ticket). Then it is all systems go. Thanks for your attention, EasyD

I posted this "beg" shortly after New Years, and have posted under rent yesterday as well as I have found out I will lose our home if I don't pay asap. I am new to this and believe me, far from lazy, just very ill. I would happily repay anyone once I get my ssdi awarded or work off anything on my "good days" when I can move around. I was amazed when I got an email that a woman donated to me, and for that, I am forever grateful. I am just praying more people see this and find it in their hearts to help if they are able to. I just copied the original one and its as follows:

Some background:

I am a mother of three wonderful children. I was married to their father for ten years, unfortunately. as with too many these days, it did not work out. I do not regret our marriage, for it gave me three wonderful children who are all almost grown now. 21, 19, 16. When we were married, we both decided it best for me to stay home with the children and raise them within our family, although this is pretty rare these days. Once we divoced though, I could only find manual type (cashier, inventory, stock, etc) work as I was married straight out of high school and did not try to go back to work until they were all in school. I did not mind working sometimes three different jobs in order to have full time hours yet work around the kids school schedule, son's physical therapy and the usual "Mom" stuff. People kept saying go back to school, but I could not figure out how to work three jobs, be the full time mom and dad and add school. Unfortunately five years ago I started feeling ill, like the flu that never went away. I kept working through it, with my kids being older as much as I knew I needed to be there, I knew I needed to pay the rent/bills too, so I started working split shifts at the grocery store. I'd go in at 6 am until 2pm, come home, be here for after school and dinner, then rush back at six and work until 11 pm. All the while I was getting sicker. I was hospitalized three times during this period. Unfortunately no one seems to want to agree with whats wrong with me, I have heard several diagnosis over the years, but RA is the one and only proven ailment, although they feel I have an overlapping autoimmune disease. I have no insurance right now, and hoping to get the state insurance soon, but I have a feeling treatment is a long ways away.

I did not want to go the ssdi route until I had no other choice. Too bad that's not how the system works. I, for the last three years have been dealing with such pain and illness, a "real job" became out of the question, so I'd work here and there, whenever I could get work and be able to do it, as some days are a little better than others. Believe me, nothing is below me, I'm happy to scrub toilets, clean dog poo, I will do anything legal to make it, most days now though I feel so bad I can't do much .Well, I have finally reached that "I can't do stage", just yesterday my daughter had to get me out of bed as I could not move. Problem is, SSDI takes up to two years to get, which I didn't realize, so now due to my inane pride, I am absolutely stuck. I just know if I can get on top of the important bills, I will be able to continue as I have (fingers crossed) until the SSDI is accepted, which I did finally file for.

More important than anything else, I need to get some food in the house for my son. I truly don't care if I eat, as long as its enough to survive, which believe it or not is very little. However, I want my growing son to be able to eat when he's hungry and have good healthy choices along with the occasional treat. My 19 year old is very self sufficient and has moved into her own apartment and after taking college courses all through high school is on the right track. My 21 year old moved out when she graduated high school and she too finished college and is self sufficient. (she has now moved back in with her daughter) That's why I only mentioned my son. I have plenty of clothes I can donate as he grew so fast, many very nice, and also more than willing to repay any amount, just can't promise when.

Please, any help at all, anything, is greatly appreciated. Food is first and there is a very cheap store nearby where I can grocery shop. Bills are secondary right now, so believe me, every bit helps. Thanks for reading my story and giving your time and any help you may be able to handle.

Some background:

I am a mother of three wonderful children. I was married to their father for ten years, unfortunately. as with too many these days, it did not work out. I do not regret our marriage, for it gave me three wonderful children who are all almost grown now. 21, 19, 16. When we were married, we both decided it best for me to stay home with the children and raise them within our family, although this is pretty rare these days. Once we divoced though, I could only find manual type (cashier, inventory, stock, etc) work as I was married straight out of high school and did not try to go back to work until they were all in school. I did not mind working sometimes three different jobs in order to have full time hours yet work around the kids school schedule, son's physical therapy and the usual "Mom" stuff. People kept saying go back to school, but I could not digure out how to work three jobs, be the full time mom and dad and add school. Unfortunately five years ago I started feeling ill, like the flu that never went away. I kept working through it, with my kids being older as much as I knew I needed to be there, I knew I needed to pay the rent/bills too, so I started working split shifts at the grocery store. I'd go in at 6 am until 2pm, come home, be here for after school and dinner, then rush back at six and work until 11 pm. All the while I was getting sicker. I was hospitalized three times during this period. Undortunately no one seems to want to agree with whats wrong with me, I have heard several diagnosis over the years, but RA is the one and only proven ailment, although they feel I have an overlapping autoimmune disease. I have no insurance right now, and hoping to get the state insurance soon, but I have a feeling treatment is a long ways away.

I did not want to go the ssdi route until I had no other choice. Too bad that's not how the system works. I, for the last three years have been dealing with such pain and illness, a "real job" became out of the question, so I'd work here and there, whenever I could get work and be able to do it, as some days are a little better than others. Believe me, nothing is below me, I'm happy to scrub toilets, clean dog poo, I will do anything legal to make it, most days now though I feel so bad I can't do much .Well, I have finally reached that "I can't do stage", just yesterday my daughter had to get me out of bed as I could not move. Problem is, SSDI takes up to two years to get, which I didn't realize, so now due to my inane pride, I am absolutely stuck. I just know if I can get on top of the important bills, I will be able to continue as I have (fingers crossed) until the SSDI is accepted, which I did finally file for.

More important than anything else, I need to get some food in the house for my son. I truly don't care if I eat, as long as its enough to survive, which believe it or not is very little. However, I want my growing son to be able to eat when he's hungry and have good healthy choices along with the occasional treat. My 19 year old is very self sufficient and has moved into her own apartment and after taking college courses all through high school is on the right track. My 21 year old moved out when she graduated high school and she too finished college and is self sufficient. That's why I only mentioned my son. I have plenty of clothes I can donate as he grew so fast, many very nice, and also more than willing to repay any amount, just can't promise when.

Please, any help at all, anything, is greatly appreciated. Food is dirst and there is a very cheap store nearby where I can grocery shop. Bills are secondary right now, so believe me, every bit helps. Thanks for reading my story and giving your time and any help you may be able to handle.

Updates: September 11, 2011 - I have been able to get a part-time job which is good news, but the rest is just about the same. Thank you for your help Malum Designs
and Pete B.
Since my previous posts have yielded only four donations over the last five months I thought I would try this approach. My financial problems are quite real. If you find my fable entertaining please send a small donation.
- Fortuna vitrea est, tum cum splendet frangitur -

The Grasshopper and the Ant
A Classic retold by Joseph the Beggar King
Part One

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there were two friends, the Grasshopper and the Ant. Why these two became friends is a bit of a mystery. The Grasshopper was a dreamer and a drifter. The Ant was a believer and an achiever.

In school the Grasshopper would look out the window without thought and only learned the subjects he found interesting. Sometimes he would fall asleep in Math class, other times when a angry teacher would jump him with a pop question he would give the correct answer in way that would confound them.

The Ant was a teachers dream, he soaked up every subject the system taught him, gave the correct answers in the correct way and got straight A s. He would delight his Math teacher by doing compound interest in his head. The Ant believed that what they taught him would help him succeed and was very completive. After graduating High School the Ant got an Academic Scholarship and the Grasshopper got a Pell Grant.

Within four years the Ant got two BS degrees in Business Management and Engineering. The Grasshopper dropped out after the first year. He went to live with the Rainbow Tribe for a few years. On the way to the bus station he found an old fiddle in a trash pile along the road and when he got station he was able to panhandle his bus fare. That was the Grasshoppers first beg.

The Ant took the College like a fish to water. During open Rush some Greeks invite him to be a brother in their Fraternity. He earned his dues by being the Frat Houses Accountant and made beer money by writing term papers. One day while visiting the Tri Deltas he watches the girls play volleyball and is amazed that even though they are playing a vigorous game not one of them breaks a sweat. It is there he meets the girl of his dreams, Polly Fishbane.

While the Grasshopper was living with the Rainbow Tribe he never meets the girl of his dreams, but it does not really matter too much because they believe in Free Love. So free, in fact, that after what you might call the Honeymoon he found himself getting a little bored with it. From the Rainbow Tribe he learns to live off the fat of country and from his new friend, Buffalo with Runs, he learns to live off the land. Buffalo with Runs was an very old Indian that was adopted by the tribe. He taught the Grasshopper what wild plants were safe to eat or use for medicines. He showed him how to set traps and hunt small game. Then, during one winter Gathering four people froze to dead because they were too stoned to come in out of the cold. The Grasshopper became very sad and hopped away.

The Ant is recruited by a Aerospace firm even before he graduated college and goes to work on the Apollo Program. He and his new wife Polly loved the Florida sunshine and settle down to start the American Dream. They decide to have two and half children. Even though the third kid looked a bit odd the Ant loved him as only a father can. With easy money down and mortgage tax deductions compliments of Uncle Sam, they get a house with a two car garage. Next they get two cars and the Rat Race is on. The Ant loves it! Working on the Apollo Program is more than a job, it is being part of history. Polly loves it! Raising their kids and Keeping up of with the Jones. She starts selling Avon products on the side. The Ant buys the best bass boat in the neighborhood, but only uses it once a year because he too busy working. He sets up his retirement funds and a small stock portfolio. Life is Good!

After leaving the Rainbow Tribe the Grasshopper panhandles his way across the country. He sets up in parks and subways where he pretends to play his fiddle while selling jewelry made of deer anthers and beads. The noise he makes with his fiddle sounds like a cat being killed and people give him money just to make him stop. Before the Cops run him off, the Grasshopper usually made enough in one day of begging to cover his needs for the week. When he is hungry he goes to a Soup Kitchen and when he needs clothing there are the Sharing Centers. Every now and then he lets some good hearted woman try to save him. Life is Good and he hops away.

The Apollo Program ends and the new Shuttle program does not start for a couple of years. The Aerospace company were the Ant works at does not win any of the new bids. They offer him a job in California at 20% less of his salary. Polly and the kids are in a rage. Nobody wants to move and leave their friends. The Ant sells his house at a loss because the real estate market in flooded by the laid offs. The one car and the boat are reprocessed. He sells off his stock portfolio for the down payment on the new house in California and even though money is tight the Ant decides to take the family on a short vacation to Key West to uplift their spirits. He finds the Grasshopper selling deer antler jewelry at the Front Street Market. While Polly and the kids go shopping, he and Grasshopper catch up and have a couple of beers. The Ant tells his friend about the laid offs and the move. The Grasshopper asks him - Are you Happy - ? The Ant says - Yes -. His friend says, - Good - . They watch the sunset and see a green flash on the horizon.
To be continue.

Yesterday, I thought i had found a ride share to get home to continue my schooling and be near my family, my sister had just recently had surgery and i was concerned for her and i was in a mad rush in looking for a cheap economical way to get home.

The man i had thought would drive cross country from LA to Florida, flaked out on me taking my meager savings of 300 bucks, my cellphone and slamming my left hand in a door at a hotel i had bought.now im stranded in hollywood and without a place to turn.
First and Foremost Prayers are much needed in finding a solution, any help will be greatly appreciated

I sit here with tears in my eyes and my heart. I am 50 years old and the mother of an amazing 14 year old daughter that until until 2008 lived with a mentally abusive and cruel husband and dad. At that time we left to move in with my 88 year old father. I had hopes of a new beginning for us,a chance to be able to be happy and feel comfortable and safe in our home, something I had dreamed of for my child. Then on April 1,2009, no April Fool's joke, everything went bad. After dropping my daughter off at school, I completely blacked out while driving in morning rush hour traffic. Some how I drove through traffic lights and turns and ended up parked in a grocery store lot where I walked around, all without seeing or hearing a thing. I came to for a moment as EMS was putting me in the ambulance. I woke up 36 hours later to the fight of my life. I was in the hospital for 30 days, battling organ failure and trying to regain my memory and abilities. While all this happened to me, my father passed away at the house. My daughter came home from school to find him passed away at the side of his bed and me no where to be found. My child saw this and had no idea where I was or if something had happened to me. It took hours before the neighbors found out I had been taken to the hospital.

Since that day it has been one battle after another, but we never give up. I had to learn to walk and write again and I am still waiting for disability. We have gone through every dime I had trying to pay the utilities and the second mortgage on my father's house. The house has holes in the floor in the kitchen, bathroom and my daughter's room and electric to only one half, but we never complain because we are thankful to have somewhere to call home. I am writing this because I have $49 to my name and bills to pay so we have a home and utilities. I have tried to sell everything we do not need, but that has not gone as well as I hoped. I have tried to find ways to work from home and that has not worked out as of yet. I have worked since I was 15 and I have never been unable to do so. I can not stand not being able to provide for my child. I am hoping that the same guardian angels that guided me to safety that April day will touch your hearts and allow you to help me keep my daughter from loosing the only thing we have left. When I get back on my feet I plan to help as many people on this site and in my community as I possibly can, because I know the stress and heartache that comes with times like this. I also know that more people than one may think are only a paycheck or two from loosing everything. Please help us and do me a favor, what ever amount you find in your heart you are able to give to us, take half of it and find someone else on this site that touches your heart and give that half to them as well. I thank you for any help you can offer and know that God will bless you here on Earth and in Eternity.

Do you believe in true love? I do, and I may always believe if bestowed the proper provisions.

She was the only thing that saved me from a life of crime and possibly worse, and she came all the way from Argentina to do so. I was, as I am now, a poor student in Colorado and a "lucky bum" who finally got a break by love finding him. Currently I study foreign language, ie; Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Latin. As impressively smart as one would assume i'd have to be to study so many languages at once, to the contrary I was terribly stupid where it matters most, which is at romance. In short because of being a total " fat -head" and ingrate, I let her get on a plane out of my life without saying goodbye. Its been over a year.

Since then, my nights have been like torture without her, and each new romantic fling has been as hollow and meaningless as the preceding. The good news is however, that her and I have keep frequent contact via SKYPE.COM video calls.(thank God 4 skype!) She is in the same position as I am, realizing that she too cannot find closure to our love, and therefore we have decided that we want to be together, except forever this time. So I decided to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina indefinitely to be with the only girl for me.

However it is not enough for me to just get a plane ticket and rush over to South America and live happily ever after, I will also need a job, as well as a room or a hostel to stay in while I job hunt. ( Quite frankly, I am not trying to be unemployed,broke, and living in her mother's house in S. America, no thanks!) Therefore I am also hoping to earn/receive enough money to enroll in a program called ITTO or (International Teachers Training Organization) in Guadalajara, Mexico to receive my license to teach English as a second language(TESL) before going to live in Buenos Aires.

Target date you ask? I am trying to get out of here by early september or october of 2011. As it stands I am basically homeless, out of school for vacation, (meaning no financial aid) and have been doing temporary labor jobs which barely keeps me fed on the weekly basis, let alone permit me to save money for the provisions necessary to go on this life altering journey to find the truth of true love.

All together, I estimate with the cost of a round trip ticket to Argentina ( round trip, because non- citizens are not permitted with one way tickets) as well as the cost of the fore mentioned ITTO course and travel to and from Mexico from Colorado, plus the survival money I will need once ( god willing) I arrived in B's A's, I stand in a financial need of about $5,000.00 or slightly more.

I realize there are people with more important matters that can use money, and I truly hope they receive charity just as I would like to. However this is a petition for those who understand what it is like to let the perfect one get away and could do little or nothing about it, like a child who drops their ice cream off the cone and sadly watches as it melts on the side walk. By donating to this cause, you can be the "adult" who walks up to that kid, fumbles in his pocket for some spare change to present that poor kid with a new ice cream that takes the tears from their eyes. She is my ice cream, and I don't want another flavor for my whole life. You can help make this possible, by aiding me with an airline ticket, or even check out the ITTO website and if you feel generous enough and pay the tuition of the program. I would be more than happy to correspond with each and every donor to update you on this story with letters and even pictures of what became of your generosity.

I'd like to thank any donors in advance, as well as any one who took the time to read my story and had it in their heart to give but wasn't able. Together we can prove that there is a such things as second chances at a good thing, chivalry is certainly not dead, and love stories aren't just for the story books, in fact...it can happen to you!

Thanks and warm regards,

James McDonald

Do you believe in true love? I do, and I may always believe if bestowed the proper provisions.

She was the only thing that saved me from a life of crime and possibly worse, and she came all the way from Argentina to do so. I was, as I am now, a poor student in Colorado and a "lucky bum" who finally got a break by love finding him. Currently I study foreign language, ie; Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Latin. As impressively smart as one would assume i'd have to be to study so many languages at once, to the contrary I was terribly stupid where it matters most, which is at romance. In short because of being a total " fat -head" and ingrate, I let her get on a plane out of my life without saying goodbye. Its been over a year.

Since then, my nights have been like torture without her, and each new romantic fling has been as hollow and meaningless as the preceding. The good news is however, that her and I have keep frequent contact via SKYPE.COM video calls.(thank God 4 skype!) She is in the same position as I am, realizing that she too cannot find closure to our love, and therefore we have decided that we want to be together, except forever this time. So I decided to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina indefinitely to be with the only girl for me.

However it is not enough for me to just get a plane ticket and rush over to South America and live happily ever after, I will also need a job, as well as a room or a hostel to stay in while I job hunt. ( Quite frankly, I am not trying to be unemployed,broke, and living in her mother's house in S. America, no thanks!) Therefore I am also hoping to earn/receive enough money to enroll in a program called ITTO or (International Teachers Training Organization) in Guadalajara, Mexico to receive my license to teach English as a second language(TESL) before going to live in Buenos Aires.

Target date you ask? I am trying to get out of here by early september or october of 2011. As it stands I am basically homeless, out of school for vacation, (meaning no financial aid) and have been doing temporary labor jobs which barely keeps me fed on the weekly basis, let alone permit me to save money for the provisions necessary to go on this life altering journey to find the truth of true love.

All together, I estimate with the cost of a round trip ticket to Argentina ( round trip, because non- citizens are not permitted with one way tickets) as well as the cost of the fore mentioned ITTO course and travel to and from Mexico from Colorado, plus the survival money I will need once ( god willing) I arrived in B's A's, I stand in a financial need of about $5,000.00 or slightly more.

I realize there are people with more important matters that can use money, and I truly hope they receive charity just as I would like to. However this is a petition for those who understand what it is like to let the perfect one get away and could do little or nothing about it, like a child who drops their ice cream off the cone and sadly watches as it melts on the side walk. By donating to this cause, you can be the "adult" who walks up to that kid, fumbles in his pocket for some spare change to present that poor kid with a new ice cream that takes the tears from their eyes. She is my ice cream, and I don't want another flavor for my whole life. You can help make this possible, by aiding me with an airline ticket, or even check out the ITTO website and if you feel generous enough and pay the tuition of the program. I would be more than happy to correspond with each and every donor to update you on this story with letters and even pictures of what became of your generosity.

I'd like to thank any donors in advance, as well as any one who took the time to read my story and had it in their heart to give but wasn't able. Together we can prove that there is a such things as second chances at a good thing, chivalry is certainly not dead, and love stories aren't just for the story books, in fact...it can happen to you!

Thanks and warm regards,

James McDonald

Look, i'm about to become the first black trillionaire the world has ever seen and i don't understand why, like 'Bill' Gates has Warren Buffet as a friend, i can't have Russell 'Rush' Simmons as my best friend (and the Second Richest Man in the World). See: http://hungryblackinventorneedsyourhelp.blogspot.com/2008/10/1000-sponsors-strong-after-soliciting.html. Now,ask him to check-out the link and ask him, "WHY?"
Sincerely,
Marvn.

http://www.giveforward.com/comingtogetherforcody

Please visit our page listed above to help Cody!

Our little Cody has not been well. Since he was just a month or so old he has had a problem choking when he eats. Around the time that he was eight months old we noticed he was having these choking episodes with much more frequency and they were becoming more severe. It got to the point where we were afraid to even give him a bottle without having the phone ready to call 911!

We took him to his doctor, who suggested we see a feeding specialist. And so began our journey.....

Right away Rosie (the specialist) noticed that Cody had trouble moving his tongue and chewing food. He tended to rush when he ate and that caused even more choking, but he was choking on everything- even just water. After a horrifying episode during one of his sessions, in which Cody choked on a piece of bread and turned blue, Rosie and Dr. Pepper (Cody's doctor) decided it was time for a Swallow Study.

During the study our little Cody enjoyed every last bit of barium as we watched him mash up food and try to swallow it. The speech therapist who was monitoring the test noticed that Cody's esophagus didn't seem to be moving quite right, he rarely chewed and had a lot of acid reflux going on. Aside from those observations, Cody had Oral Dysphagia as well. Those findings led us to an Upper GI Study that ruled out some really bad stuff, but Cody started having new symptoms. He was having difficulty breathing and had to be on nebulizer treatments, was increasingly grumpy, was gassy and had a very full looking belly that hurt so badly sometimes that he couldn't give us hugs. It wasn't long until he slowed down on his eating and Dr. Pepper decided it was time for a trip to Denver Children's Hospital.

In Denver Cody met a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Pulmonary doctor who read his records and checked him in for several more tests. An Endoscopy and a Broncoscopy turned up a very nice looking esophagus (even the biopsies looked good!) but some pretty bad asthma. They placed a tube in his nose for another test called a PH Impedence Study to measure what was coming back up form the stomach and during which times it was happening. This was all very hard on our tiny little man. He had a horrible reaction to the anethesia which forced him to have to be hooked up to monitors. Anyone who knows our Cody knows what a busy little guy he is!

The results were confusing, though, because Cody had been on a medication that was supposed to help with motility and we knew it did SOMETHING for him- but with his great looking esophagus we weren't sure what it was helping with. If his esophagus was moving fine, why did a drug that was supposed to help it move make him feel a little better? The doctors decided to do a Gastric Emptying Study as well. Cody was NOT happy because he couldn't eat for yet another day. If you know our Cody- you know he loves to eat!

The next day we did the study and it didn't take long to get the results. In the time it takes the average stomach to empty, Cody's stomach had only emptied 7% of it's contents. The medication had been helping his little belly move. Unfortunately, it has some nasty side effects and he can't go back on it. They are currently trying him on a low dose of Erythromycin, which is the last medication available to treat Gastroparesis (Delayed Gastric Emptying), according to our medical team.

We soon got the results of the tube they placed in his nose, as well. Cody has a pretty big reflux problem, too. Since his belly is so slow to empty, his acid has no place to go but up. No wonder he is so grumpy. The constant flow of acid is also a huge trigger for the breathing problems he is having. They are now trying him on both Zantac and Prevacid- both drugs that have not worked well alone, but we are praying they will work better together.

We are trying hard to give Cody small meals throughout the day and to incorporate all the nutrients he needs, but its hard. With the delayed emptying we are supposed to avoid high fat and high fiber foods. We already have to avoid eggs, dairy, soy, berries and nuts due to allergies, so you can imagine what a challenge we have on our hands!

Cody's GI doctors have recomended 2-3 surgeries, including a feeding tube. Gastroparesis is a Dysmotility Disorder. There is a small chance he could outgrow this and there is also a small chance it is actually caused by something treatable- although in 60% of the cases there is no known cause.

In order to fully understand Cody's condition, why he has it and what all the options are, as well as how to care for him properly- we need to take him to Columbus, Ohio to see one of the very few Dysmotility Specialists in the country. We have no idea how long we'll have to be there or how much of this trip will come out of our pockets. Cody's insurance does not cover any travel expenses and will likely not cover any repeat testing he may need. He is currently on a modified diet and they don't cover the costs of any of that, either.


We are asking that our friends, family and anyone who is able come together to help us- both financially and spiritually. We need the finances to get us there and keep us going even when we can't work due to surgery or whatever may come; and we need your prayers and support to keep us strong as we try to manage this difficult and unfamiliar situation. We want so badly for our baby to feel better- he has brought us so much joy and is truely our little sunshine!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read our story and for doing what you can!

I'm a father of three kids, two daughters 14 and 11 and a son 9. I have my kids 99% of the time. I work a full time job and come home and take care of my kids. It takes alot to raise three kids but I wouldn't change the fact that I have them all the time. I'm single and have been for three years and not in any rush to move someone in for money. I'm not looking to get rich or have a massive donation, but I dont have a reliable car and can't afford to have it nickle and dime me to death. I would like to get a car that is a little more reliable but my credit is bad due to my medical bills(I have asthma and was in Icu for two weeks with no insurance)I have checked places and they want a big down payment so anything would help. Thanks Illinois

Hello, my name is Stephanie and here's my story:

I liked to helping people. It made me feel good. It gave me a rush of happiness that made my step lighter and my day brighter.

If someone on the street asked for change, I'd give it if I had it. Who cares what they used it for, it made me feel good.

When someone stood at the entrance to the freeway with a sign, "Need Help", or "Down On Luck, Please Help", I'd roll down my window and give them what cash I had. That made me feel great.

A few years ago some friends needed help moving, so I loaned (gave) them a couple grand to help get them on their way. I felt really good about that one.

I'm not telling you this to convince you I'm an awesome person. I didn't give because they needed it. I gave because it made me feel good. It made me feel powerful. I could get someone that much closer to fulfilling their needs or reaching their goals. I admit, giving made me feel just a bit superior. Superior for not being desperate. Superior for not needing to ask strangers for help.

But I don't feel so superior now. I put on their shoes. I put on their hat. And I'm holding up their sign, "Down On Luck, Need Help".

Now I'm asking you to search your pockets for change. Or maybe spare a buck or two to get me back on track. Some unknown person once said, "Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns." I hope so, 'cause I'm betting dinner on it.

I solemnly promise to give a portion of what I receive someone else in need.

Paying it forward!

Thank you for donating today!