Emergency Heart Surgery

I had to start my 29 gifts challenge over today. I had kept forgetting about the challenge and then last minute deciding that something that I gave during the day could be considered a gift. I lost my momentum, so this is start-over day 1.

This gift is a good place to re-start. I have created a website to collect donations for my 23 year old cousin who needs emergency heart surgery and doesn't have any health insurance to cover it.

http://donationsfordesiree.blogspot.com

Desiree's story:
My cousin Desiree was born with a heart condition, which got a lot worse this past February after she gave birth to her first child. She had a first heart surgery in November, but while the doctor was doing the surgery he had to stop when he realized that he was in over his head. He told her that it is a lot worse than he thought and that he doesn't have the expertise to fix it. He said that she might die if she doesn't have proper surgery or get a heart transplant and that there is only one person in the country who might possibly be able to fix her heart (a doctor named Srinivas R. Dukkipati at Mt. Sinai in New York). This doctor is amazingly donating his time to help my cousin. Thank you Dr. Dukkipati! But, the hospital can't afford to donate the facilities, equipment and supporting staff that will cost $30,000. In addition, Desiree and her family need help funding the actual trip to New York (they live in Michigan and won't be getting paid during the weeks they are in New York).

I wish that I could be in Michigan to give them support first hand, but I am going to do my best to raise money and well wishes for her from across the country. If you can spare any money, please donate on my website. Cards sent to her or comments of support on the website would also be amazing! (the address to send them to is on the website)