Ways to help

For those of you that know me, it's hard for me to ask for help. I really think it's hard for any of us to ask for help when we need it..whether we think we need it or not. I know it's a pride thing, you don't want to seem helpless and that you can't provide for yourself or your family.

Over the course of my illness we have had soooo much help from so many people that we just can't thank everyone enough. Whether it was helping out with our kids, meals, prayers, cards, gas cards, meal cards, donations, whatever it was has been a tremendous help to Doug and I. Having worked 2 different jobs at school and photographing for Bella Baby, both places of work have helped us out above and beyond what I ever could imagine. Doug's co-workers have all helped out tremendously too and the generosity from others just keeps coming in. (He tells me that his co-workers like me more then they like him! lol!)

With this in mind, people are still asking what they can do to help. I would just like to add a few things here to my blog of what is currently in the works. If you would like to help out in some way, that is great, and if not, that's great too. :) (like I said, hard time accepting help, haha) **SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THIS**

I am hopeful that on Monday I will be officially listed for lungs at the Cleveland Clinic. When I am listed I will have to be ready at pretty much a moments notice. I will get a number and the higher the number the sicker I am and the higher on the list I am. They also have to match my blood type and my body type. So while I may get listed Monday it is anyone's guess as to when I will get lungs. It could be within a day or it could be years.

I do have insurance through Doug's work, but only so much is covered with transplant. There will be many out of pocket expenses that we will incur. One of the major expenses we*might* have to have is a plane ride there once I get the call. This is because we live so far away. We should be ok to drive, but there is a possibility that we cannot. I have a friend that knows someone that has offered to fly me to Cleveland and so I think that this is covered...yet if the weather is bad, or something else would happen to go on then it is possible I can't use him and would have to use Cleveland's jet which would be about $7000-$8000 out of pocket. Once I do have the transplant and I am released from the hospital I will have to live within an hour from the clinic for at least 6-8 weeks. So lodging, food, and gas are just many of the things that will not be covered. There are also some devices I will have to purchase to use for my lungs that I was told will not be covered by insurance, and then there are all of the lovely medications that I will be on for life. We were told to expect at least $20,000 out of pocket for transplant; could be more could be less depending on how I do. Regardless, money will be used for medical expenses whether it's for medications or for future trips to Cleveland because I will remain going there for follow ups frequently at first and then for the rest of my life as well.

With that being said, there are a few things going on to help raise some money for my transplant. The first one is a wonderful website that a wonderful friend has put online for me. Jenny Pleiman, my Bella Baby Photography manager has one of the biggest hearts and has rallied to help raise money for my cause! She has been amazing and I love her! :) If you would like to donate online, the website to use is: http://www.giveforward.com/thejourneyofkarathecatepillar?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=user_vanity_page

I do have an account set up at Second National Bank. So if you would like to donate at one of the area branches, my account is named "Kara L Didier Benefit Fund".

I feel my caterpillar feet ready to twirl up in that cocoon....