I have had questions raised and I would like to answer them here on the blog. First of all, in my blog requesting $1500 it has been asked that if the conference is free then why do I have to raise so much money. That is because I completely forgot to mention that originally. The reason the conference is able to be free is because the Arthritis Foundation would like for each family to raise the money for the Arthritis Foundation. This is just like any other cause like Walk for The Cure or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. You can read all about it at http://www.arthritis.org/chapters/texas/ja-family-weekend.php.
Another question is who to make the checks out to. You can either make them out to me (Ashlea Longenecker) or to my daughter (Brylea Longenecker). Wells Fargo will accept them either way. Also, if you have any questions trying to find the account please feel free to e-mail me (longawhats02@yahoo.com) or message me through Facebook and I can send you the account number. Both venues go straight to my phone so as soon as I see the alert or e-mail I will answer right away.
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated or pledged to donate so far! I am getting more and more excited with each $20 donation that Brylea is receiving on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
When Oppurtunity Knocks...
Over the course of learning about what Brylea is dealing with I have had several people contact me and ask what they can do to help. It seems everytime my answer is prayer. However, today my answer is a little different. I was introduced to a woman whose daughter has been dealing with arthritis for 7 years. She has introduced me to an opportunity that I CANNOT pass up. This is where I am asking for your help as well.
In September, there is a weekend long conference at Great Wolf Lodge. This is not some ordinary conference. It is a three day chance to talk with fellow doctors, nutritionists, and parents who are knowledgable in arthritis. This is a chance for Nathan and I to get a better perspective in how to help Brylea. This is a three day weekend where Brylea can meet other children going through exactly what she goes through. I believe this conference was meant for us to learn as a family how how to treat arthritis.
Now, this is where *YOU* can come into play. The conference is free. Absolutely free. There is just one catch. We have to raise $1500 by JULY 31ST to be able to attend the conference. I know...I know! That is THIRTEEN days away. I understand this. However, something inside of me is screaming that I have to try. I have to try for Brylea to raise this money. I realize I do not have time to organize some kind of charity fundraising event. This is why I am writing this now. This is it. This is my only way of getting my message out to everyone. I spoke with my mother and she had a great perspective. All I need is 75 willing people to donate at least $20. I have OVER 300 friends on my Facebook alone. I see posts and reposts about cancer awareness, autism awareness, "If you are Truly My Friend" reposts. Now I am asking for a repost of this blog post. If you cannot donate $20...donate what you can. If you are just financially strapped then I am asking that you repost this blog post to anyone and everyone. Copy and paste it into an e-mail and forward the snot out of this. I KNOW I can raise this money but I CANNOT do it without *YOUR* help.
The next question may be how to donate. To make sure that people realize this is a legit fundraiser (and not a way for Nathan and I to get a down payment on a really cute sportscar lol) I have set up a benefit account at Wells Fargo. All you have to do (or your family, friends, etc...) is walk into your nearest Wells Fargo and ask to donate to the benefit account set up for Brylea Longenecker or the benefit account set up by Ashlea Longenecker. They will be more than happy to help you. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me at longawhats02@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for reading this! I wish I had a gift for every donation like PBS but I don't. I just have the hope that this conference can make a HUGE difference in Brylea's life.
Thank you again!
The Longenecker's
In September, there is a weekend long conference at Great Wolf Lodge. This is not some ordinary conference. It is a three day chance to talk with fellow doctors, nutritionists, and parents who are knowledgable in arthritis. This is a chance for Nathan and I to get a better perspective in how to help Brylea. This is a three day weekend where Brylea can meet other children going through exactly what she goes through. I believe this conference was meant for us to learn as a family how how to treat arthritis.
Now, this is where *YOU* can come into play. The conference is free. Absolutely free. There is just one catch. We have to raise $1500 by JULY 31ST to be able to attend the conference. I know...I know! That is THIRTEEN days away. I understand this. However, something inside of me is screaming that I have to try. I have to try for Brylea to raise this money. I realize I do not have time to organize some kind of charity fundraising event. This is why I am writing this now. This is it. This is my only way of getting my message out to everyone. I spoke with my mother and she had a great perspective. All I need is 75 willing people to donate at least $20. I have OVER 300 friends on my Facebook alone. I see posts and reposts about cancer awareness, autism awareness, "If you are Truly My Friend" reposts. Now I am asking for a repost of this blog post. If you cannot donate $20...donate what you can. If you are just financially strapped then I am asking that you repost this blog post to anyone and everyone. Copy and paste it into an e-mail and forward the snot out of this. I KNOW I can raise this money but I CANNOT do it without *YOUR* help.
The next question may be how to donate. To make sure that people realize this is a legit fundraiser (and not a way for Nathan and I to get a down payment on a really cute sportscar lol) I have set up a benefit account at Wells Fargo. All you have to do (or your family, friends, etc...) is walk into your nearest Wells Fargo and ask to donate to the benefit account set up for Brylea Longenecker or the benefit account set up by Ashlea Longenecker. They will be more than happy to help you. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me at longawhats02@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for reading this! I wish I had a gift for every donation like PBS but I don't. I just have the hope that this conference can make a HUGE difference in Brylea's life.
Thank you again!
The Longenecker's
Monday, July 18, 2011
Enbrel Here We Come!
So...to catch everyone up to speed. On our last appointment the Dr.'s at Scottish Rite had decided to put Brylea on another arthritis medication (Enbrel). It will be a twice/week injection (that we do at home) in conjunction with her Naproxen, folic acid, and her weekly Methotrexate. I tried to get the Methotrexate out of the equation but supposedly the Dr.'s know more than I do. :0)
With my prescription in hand I delivered to CVS back in the beginning of June. Since then, I have had to make several calls to CVS, our prescription insurance, and Scottish Rite. In the meantime, I have heard horror stories of how much this medication costs ($1400/mnth +). Nathan and I were anxious at first but knew that God would provide somehow/someway. Our insurance was declining the Enbrel request since they prefer Humira (another arthritis medication) and I had to go through our "specialty pharmacy" to get the prescription filled. My insurance had to triple check to make sure that Scottish Rite absolutely wanted Enbrel specifically (hassle!). However, today I spoke with our insurance today and they were going to call HR to get the override to get the Enbrel approved. The customer service rep said I would get a call back by this afternoon letting me know what was going to happen. An hour later I get a call back letting me know that the Enbrel was approved and they would be shipping it directly to me. However, it GETS BETTER! I only have to pay a monthly co-pay of $50 (!) to get delivered. God came through and now we will be back on track with a regimen that will hopefully help Brylea.
This summer had been going really well for Brylea. Fortunately for her there has been no rain or cold fronts so she has been feeling good. However, on Thursday she had her first nosebleed. The Dr.'s ask every check-up if she has had one so now I am watching for further incidents and hoping this is the only isolated one. I do not know how nosebleeds are connected but I am thinking its a bad sign from her medications. It may have just been a fluke from the hot air that we are experiencing. But since then she has been swollen and really limping for the past few days. As much as I hate the thought of my daughter receiving 3 injections/week I am hoping that we can see drastic improvement. With my couponing I have stocked up on cute Band-Aids hoping to help the cause. Thank you everyone for your inquiries and prayers! I am still on my Happy Cloud from the good news received today!
With my prescription in hand I delivered to CVS back in the beginning of June. Since then, I have had to make several calls to CVS, our prescription insurance, and Scottish Rite. In the meantime, I have heard horror stories of how much this medication costs ($1400/mnth +). Nathan and I were anxious at first but knew that God would provide somehow/someway. Our insurance was declining the Enbrel request since they prefer Humira (another arthritis medication) and I had to go through our "specialty pharmacy" to get the prescription filled. My insurance had to triple check to make sure that Scottish Rite absolutely wanted Enbrel specifically (hassle!). However, today I spoke with our insurance today and they were going to call HR to get the override to get the Enbrel approved. The customer service rep said I would get a call back by this afternoon letting me know what was going to happen. An hour later I get a call back letting me know that the Enbrel was approved and they would be shipping it directly to me. However, it GETS BETTER! I only have to pay a monthly co-pay of $50 (!) to get delivered. God came through and now we will be back on track with a regimen that will hopefully help Brylea.
This summer had been going really well for Brylea. Fortunately for her there has been no rain or cold fronts so she has been feeling good. However, on Thursday she had her first nosebleed. The Dr.'s ask every check-up if she has had one so now I am watching for further incidents and hoping this is the only isolated one. I do not know how nosebleeds are connected but I am thinking its a bad sign from her medications. It may have just been a fluke from the hot air that we are experiencing. But since then she has been swollen and really limping for the past few days. As much as I hate the thought of my daughter receiving 3 injections/week I am hoping that we can see drastic improvement. With my couponing I have stocked up on cute Band-Aids hoping to help the cause. Thank you everyone for your inquiries and prayers! I am still on my Happy Cloud from the good news received today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)