Paying it Forward: Session 1

The first session of the 'Do Better. Be Better.' events were a HUGE success.  The session started with  a week one returner's only gauntlet and ended with the very first blacklight gauntlet at each location.  We were able to raise $5400!  Better yet, we helped four families in need, rather than our goal of one family that we originally began with.  Thank you to all of you for making these events so incredibly successful.

The stories below briefly highlight those who we all helped.  Gifting the money to these families was an experience I will never forget.  They all wanted to make sure that I extended their deepest appreciation, love, and gratefulness to all of you.  Yes, the monetary donation to them was incredibly helpful.   But, all of them were quick to say that the thoughtfulness and kindness behind it was even more powerful and truly overwhelming.  All of the families were inspired to pay it forward and are hopeful that they will someday help us in our efforts to help others.  

Ross Hansen

In almost 6 years of Ross and Lindsay’s marriage, Ross has endured two spinal fusion surgeries and one crushed vertebrae repair with screws; one surgery during both of Lindsay’s pregnancies.  Since his last fusion in 2012, Ross had been very ill off and on.  He suffered from bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections, and war infections all at the same time.  These infections would last three weeks to a month each time with migraine headaches increasing in frequency until he had a tonic-clonic seizure on Aug 27, 2014, which was the day before their daughter's 2nd birthday.  Although it is not considered a "migraine" anymore, his headache is still present today.  Ross now deals with frequent nausea and vomiting. Ross and Lindsay have found an outstanding alternative medicine doctor in Minnesota and are pretty confident he'll be better soon, considering the progress he's made since they started seeing him. Due to his illness, Ross cannot work much and doesn’t receive disability, so it has been a struggle financially.  

Vesna Latic-Sabic

Vesna is a 27 year-old mom of 10 months-old Adhan. On December 25th, 2014, Vesna learned she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), which is a fast growing form of cancer of the blood and the bone marrow. Vesna will have to have bone marrow transplant.  80% of the time siblings are a match, but unfortunately her siblings were not.  The University Hospitals in Iowa City were able to find a match for Vesna. Vesna has been going through chemo therapy and she has one last session to complete.  At the end of May she will have her bone marrow transplant. Vesna was employed with Bertch Cabinets, but since diagnosed has lost her job due to medical absences. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Danielle Morehead

Danielle was diagnosed with stage four inflammatory breast cancer at the age of 31.  Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and very aggressive form of cancer.  More times than not, a tumor cannot even be felt in a breast exam.  Unfortunately, Danielle’s cancer metastasized to many of her vertebras and liver, leaving her with severe back and abdominal pain.  She was six months pregnant with her third child when she had to make the devastating decision to terminate the pregnancy in order to receive the chemotherapy that she needed.  Her doctors are currently trying to find the right medicine to ease her pain and kill the cancer.  She plans to use half of the funds we gifted her to get a second opinion in Chicago and the other half will be put in a trust fund for her children. 

    

LaShawn Galburth 

LaShawn is the mother of 3 elementary age children and has been in and out of the University of Iowa Hospitals due to complications from a previous surgery.  Due to these unfortunate complications and hospitalizations, she has been unable to work since the end of December.  Previously, LaShawn had held two jobs in order to provide for her kids, even though she receives some government assistance.  LaShawn and her children live in an apartment in Waterloo, but the children attend school in Cedar Falls.  Her children are being cared for by a family friend and grandmother while LaShawn recovers.  LaShawn is using our gift to her to pay for medical expenses that have accrued since she was hospitalized.    ​