Trick or Treat is tomorrow and Zoe is especially excited because my boyfriend & his daughter will be joining us. I need to thank someone for Zoe’s costume & I’m soooooo sorry but I’m not sure who. If you read this, and you are who I’m thanking then please step up and let me know! Last year I was emailed a gift certificate for Zoe through http://www.princesstimetoys.com/ . I hadn’t used it and money was tight this Halloween so I’m glad I saved it. Zoe will be Glitter Kitty. The gift certificate covered the costume, petticoat, and shipping. I ordered it Thursday & received it Monday. Talk about fast. It’s hanging in the closet waiting for tomorrow night. Every night before bed Zoe asks to look at her Glitter Kitty costume. lol I’ll be sure to post pictures of her in her costume soon. So thanks so much to Princess Time Toys for the gift certificate. Zoe & I are most grateful!

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As Chrissy had mentioned though, we expect the cost of her medicines to rise. I read a very scary news article about a woman who received a new kidney and then had to have another transplant because Medicare stopped paying for her anti-rejection medicine, since she couldn’t afford her medicine on her own, she rationed her medicine!

Luckily, Zoe has medical coverage outside of Medicare/Medicaid but the reality is that this could happen to anyone, even a child, and as anyone knows, even the insurance companies could change their policies and leave Chrissy struggling more than she is now.

That’s why we are always thinking of ways that we can make sure Chrissy is able to pay for Zoe’s medicine. Last year’s fundraising was a success but we’re looking towards next year and anticipating costs rising again.

We quickly put together a garage sale to start off fundraising this fall (more fundraising information to come in the next few weeks, I think we’ve got something for everyone!) We kicked it off today and even the rain didn’t keep people away!

The garage sale will run through Saturday and Sunday, we’re hoping that the weather evens out and cooperates a little bit.

The garage sale opens at 9 am Saturday and Sunday and closes at 5pm each day. Here are some of the items we have available:

• 4 place setting china with crystal stem ware
• Porcelain Dolls (including a bride doll)
• Cabbage Patch doll
• Collection of Scarett figures in globed stand (I think there are 6 or 7 of these)
• Electric Lawn Mower,
• Dessert fondue
• Sleeping bags (Kids)
• Bikes
• T-Fal Safety Fryer
• Electric Wok
• Yogurt maker
• Ice cream maker
• Pasta machine
• Kabob it cooker
• Collectible tins
• Mixer set
• Galloping Gourmet roaster/cooker
• Lego set
• TV Trays
• Leather and Suede jackets
• Jewelry
• Books
• Movies
• Kids Stuffed Animals
• Girls Clothes (sizes small to large)
• 5 piece living room set
• Computer Games (kids and family)
• Housewares items (sheets, etc)
• Antique Style working telephone
• Wooden Rocking chair
• Outdoor lantern (hangs on the side of the house? – still in box!)

I’m sure I’m forgetting some things but you get the idea – there is a lot to choose from!

All items came from our homes and generous donations from family and friends. Except for a few items, all we ask is a donation, meaning we are taking offers for nearly every item listed.

The garage sale is located at:

44553 Hallauer Road, Oberlin OH 44074

If you’d like to come out and look, please do! If you’re not a fan of garage sales (or you’re too far away), you’re welcome to use the donation button in the sidebar. All monies received go directly to help cover the costs of her medicine this next year.

We are tentatively planning two other fundraisers and will have more details on them and how you can help in the next few weeks.

Last but not least…

When Zoe was last in the hospital, right before her 7th birthday, her and I spent the evening making a slideshow on my laptop to pass the time. Zoe picked from the pictures I had stored on my laptop, the song, the order of the pictures and even the effects. Before we put the finishing touches on it, I asked who the slideshow was for, and she said “my mom and dad”. I shared this slideshow once on my site but time got away from me and I forgot to post it here. I hope you all enjoy it.

For her Mom and Dad from Nichole Smith on Vimeo.

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Zoe is doing well. She’s getting over bronchitis but it’s been like any other kid with bronchitis. Trip to the pediatrician, antibiotics & cough medicine (which she refused to take because it smelled bad). She’s almost completely over it and just in time to because she has a biopsy on Tuesday Ocotber 13th.

We’re coming up on our year which drops her risk some so we’re pretty glad.

These past few months have been such a change from this time last year. She plays gym (apparently she’s a dodge ball champ, if you ask her anyway) and I’m working on getting her signed back up for dance with Miss Colleen at the YWCA. She hasn’t danced in 2 years because she was too sick but she plans to return to ballet and try to hand, or feet rather, at tap. Soccer may be a possibility in the spring or cheerleading, whichever she decides on. This time last year she was so tired and throwing up at random. She missed the Halloween walk at Carlisle Reservation that we do with my dad, sister and her kids every year because she was throwing up. She gets to go this year and it’s all she can talk about.

I was to thank everyone for their continued support. We are working on fund raising ideas for the new year to help offset the cost of her medications. Her prograff (anti-rejection that will she take for life) is $200. That’s with insurance by thw way and I anticipate tht cost rising to $300 come January. Check back often. I’ll try to update more regularly, but if you don’t hear anything that means there’s nothing to report and that’s the best news we could have.

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She had an appointment with Dr. Boyle yesterday. Everything is fine for once. She’s due for a biopsy in about 3 weeks.

Her turoring is going well. She has her last session tomorrow. She’s worked very hard and will be a 2nd grader on September 1st when school starts again.

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In the midst of working as many hours as humanly possible, seeing her girl through a heart transplant and trips back and forth to the hospital, Chrissy graduated from LCCC with not one but  TWO associate degrees. She graduated this month with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science. She is the first of us to graduate from College and doesn’t plan on being done any time soon.

This fall she returns to LCCC through the University Partnership to attend Bowling Green State University and receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology.

She told me on the phone that she missed the Dean’s list by a QUARTER of a point, but in the grand scheme of things that matters little. I’m very proud of her!

Please feel free to drop your congratulations and good wishes here in the comments. I know it would mean a lot to her!

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Her last   about 3 1/2 weeks ago and the results were the same as they have been. Good. She had a cold a few weeks ago but even though her white cell count is “concerningly low” she was able to fight it off herself. She’s due for another biopsy in about 2 1/2 weeks I believe.

I must say I’m a little frustrated with the medical staff right now though. The day of her last biopsy was a long day as usual. Zoe & I both fell asleep once we got home and the phone didn’t wake us up so I missed Dr. Boyles’ call with the biopsy results. He wasn’t pleased and I got my proverbial butt chewed on via voice mail. Here’s my frustration: After the biopsy she was supposed to stop her antibiotic for the CMV and her lasix. Dr. Boyle neglected to mention that to me. I read it a week later in his report to her pediatrician. I had to call Colleen to confirm. Over a week ago I put in another call to Colleen checking to see if Zoe’s appointment was scheduled yet since it should be the following week (last week) & asking if Dr. Boyle would approve soccer or tennis lessons (had to have her signed up by last friday). No return call. No doctors appointment, no sign-up for tennis or soccer. I had to call Colleen again today because Gabe has strep throat and they were together last night and this morning so she was exposed to him while he was symptomatic. They are separated for the night since he’s contagious for 24 more hours. No return call yet. Why is it okay for a Doctor to ream someone a new behind for not answering the phone (for all he knows I was in the restroom) but it’s perfectly acceptable practice to not return phone calls from the patients parents or schedule appointments or tell someone about medication changes? I wish I made 6+ figures a year. Then I too could get away with being rude.

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