Thursday, March 29, 2012

CHARITY HOPPING AROUND THE WORLD Giveaway Hop

I love this hop because it provides an opportunity to share a personal glimpse, make people aware of a few important things, and hopefully help a needful charity. Thanks so much to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer; to the Reading Away the Day's Blog; and to the Reading A Little Bit Of Everything Blog for hosting this hop.

My charity is the American Kidney Fund, and here's why. My daughter, Amanda, is about to give birth to her third baby, and what makes that pretty miraculous is the fact that Amanda is a kidney transplant recipient.

Here is a photo of Amanda, her husband Nick, and their eighteen-month-old son Brady, on the fifth anniversary of her transplant. And that darling little baby girl in the photo is Avery, born on that very tender day. We thought it was a tender mercy that the fifth anniversary of this life-saving surgery brought us another miracle--little Avery. In a few weeks, Amanda will deliver her third and last child, a son they'll name Wesley.

Amanda and Nick have been asked to be spokespersons for the Kidney Foundation, to give hope to patients struggling with the fear and shock of this diagnosis. Each spring they pack up their family and join the walk for the National Kidney Foundation to show people what miracles can happen with good medical diagnosis and treatment. I'll join them this year. I was blessed to be Amanda's kidney donor.

Amanda didn't even know she was in renal failure when she was diagnosed. The symptoms came on so gradually that she unwittingly adjusted to the fatigue and other issues the disease presented. Her kidney disease was the result of a genetic perfect storm. My husband and I each carried markers for a weakness that manifested in Amanda. But some kidney loss can occur because of overuse of Motrin or other OTC drugs, and other health issues can also lead to kidney disease.

Amanda was blessed with great insurance that covered this essential and expensive transplant, but she has made friends with other transplant recipients who have not been so fortunate, and for them, the Kidney Fund is a critical source of aid.


So be aware and prudent in your use of OTC drugs, and get a good annual physical that includes a renal panel. And when an opportunity comes to donate to the National Kidney Fund, remember Amanda, and please donate so others can also enjoy this miracle. Thank you!

Now, for reading all of this you deserve the giveaway info. My prize is two books--one new one the winner can select from the books I've written. (I'll personalize it for the person of your choice if you'd like to give it as a gift), and one gently-read book from my personal reading shelf. You can even name your favorite genre and I'll choose the second book for you. How does that sound?

You may enter multiple times, but each entry must be posted separately or the stubborn program that selects my winner will ignore your entry.

1. First, you must be or become a follower of this blog.

2. Friend me on Facebook.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Stop by my web site, click the "CONTACT ME" link and send me a "hi" by email.

5. Be my friend on Goodreads.

Thanks! Now go enjoy these other blogs. The winner will be drawn at midnight on April 4th.


41 comments:

  1. Laurie, what a beautiful family. :) I wish her continued health. The smiles on their faces says it all.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  2. GFC follower under Lucky47.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good reads friend under Carol Luciano
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sent you an email Laurie saying Hi. :)
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for the awesome chance to win! I follow via email: edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Laurie! Thanks for the great giveaway! I love reading your emails that you send:)
    gfc brendajean

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for a great giveaway, Laurie! I love reading your emails:)

    gfc brendajean
    email bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. FB friends- Brenda Child

    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Twitter- bchild5

    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stopped by your website and sent you a Hi!

    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. GR friend Brenda Child


    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. i am a follower of this blog.

    GFC catherine c

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. i am a friend on Facebook.

    cathy c

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. i added you as a friend on Goodreads

    catherine c

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great charity! My mom has had to have a kidney transplant as well. Best of health to you all! <3

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1. I follow: Mary Preston

    Thank you for the great giveaway.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. 2. Friend on FB: Mary Preston

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. 4. Stopped by the website & said HI.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. 5. Friend on GR: Mary Preston


    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. FB follower: Lexie May Hogan
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Twitter follower: @LexieBookBug
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Goodreads friend: Lexie Hogan
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Stopped by website & said hi
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. GFC follower: skidmore333atgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  25. GFC Carrie Ardoin

    celjla212 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Facebook friend Carrie Lee Ardoin.

    celjla212 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Following on Twitter @ celjla212

    celjla212 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Friend on Goodreads, Carrie Ardoin

    celjla212 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great post! There was a cute girl in our ward that badly needed a kidney. My great hubby was tested and found that he was a match for her! We were going forward with everything, and then almost at the last minute, they found a cadaver match. That was several years ago, and now she is a beautiful, vibrant young woman. Good luck to your daughter and her soon to be new one!!

    Oh, I follow this blog! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm your Facebook friend - Lori Widdison. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I sent you an e-mail.

    widsfam7 @ digis dot net

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am your Goodreads friend - Lori Widdison

    ReplyDelete
  33. GFC follower: caitlin

    gokarter418 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Friended you on fb! (kate smythe)

    gokarter418 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks! GFC follower! :)

    sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

    ReplyDelete
  36. Requested your friendship on fb

    sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

    ReplyDelete
  37. following you on twitter as xsarry777x

    sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sorry I'm posting this news so late, but my daughter went into the hospital to deliver her third baby, a boy they're planning on naming Wesley. I've got the other two kiddies, and things have been very exciting around here.

    But back to the contest news: Random.org chose entry number four, and that's Carol L. Congratulations, Carol!

    Thanks to everyone else who read the "Charity Hop" post and played along.

    Wishing you a wonderful, joyful Easter, everyone!

    ReplyDelete

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