Day +185
Hello everyone. We made it through Laney's hip surgery and Erin's six month post studies. There is not a lot of new to report on with Miss Erin. As you can see, she is growing rather quickly! She is cutting her bottom two teeth right now. I find it hard to believe that she will be turning one before we know it. We got the ok that she should be able to have a party, we will just have to be very cautious about sickness and live immunizations. Also, as of May 1st Laney and Erin should be able to visit with their immediate cousins as long as they are known well. Laney is VERY excited for her cousins to see her sister!
We still continue to visit the St. Judes clinic in Johnson City weekly but they mentioned last week that it may soon go to twice per month. Hopefully, Erin will stay behind in TN when John and I take Laney back to Duke April 28th for her ortho check-up. She will need to return the last week ofJune for her nine month post studies.
As most of you know we went through the Children's Organ Transplant Association for fundraising before Laney's transplant. With the help of very special family and friends we raised over $100,000! This money has been used over the last seven years for the expenses associated with transplant. Transplant itself has a $650,000 price tag, not to mention therapies, surgeries, and medication. COTA has been wonderful to let us use Laney's account for Erin's expenses too. Right now Erin is on eight different medications that she takes up to a total of seventeen times per day. COTA informed me this past week that our funds have just about become depleated and there isn't much more room for any reimbursements. All of our expenses we have to pay for upfront, turn in a receipt, and then get reimbursed. They do not reimburse us for anything other than they girls' needs. The money is only there for medical bills (which are overwhelming), medication, and expense with return trip to Duke like lodging, etc. During Erin's transplant our health insurance paid for our apartment rent ($3,000 per month) in which we were very thankful for but they do not pay for any expenses associated with check-ups. So, if you or your friends and family would like to help us we would most graciously appreciate any donation made to our COTA account to help our daughters. We could not have financially made it thus far without the generosity of the ones who have already given their heart and help. We have been very blessed!
Any donation can be made to:
Children's Organ Transplant Association
2501 West COTA Drive
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
*They ask that "COTA for Laney B" be written in the memo space of the check.
On-line donations can be made at www.cota.org Just search for a COTA family and enter Laney's name.
Thank you, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Much love,
Beth Anne
