It's looking like I'll need to fundraise another $3,000CAD for César's child, who needs oxygen for another month of recovery from double-lung pneumonia before insurance kicks in. I've been fortunate to have folks who know me helping out, but I fear I need more hands on deck.
Can you help? Can you spread this ask to someone who can? I can't use the usual fundraisers due to regional zoning. I have PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/mlclarkwriter. Can I offer you MS feedback? Proofing? Market recs? Let me know.
👋 Morning CoSo!
I see that someone has boosted an old ask - which is very kind, but although I'm definitely still in the red from helping César's family in January and February, I am managing my debt load while trying to make more income.
There are, however, plenty in #CoSoMutualAid who more urgently need help keeping the lights on or undergoing major transitions. Please consider helping @Jene_Sais_Quoi & @Blue_Skyesr_here start over.
& CoSo could use funding too!
Lots of love to be shared. ❤️
@MLClark
Tagging with,
@corlin Thank you, Corlin! ❤️
@MLClark PP doesn't find via that. I'm trying...
@wolfwoman Sorry, I'm confused. Is the ko-fi link not working for you?
@MLClark I keep getting redirected. I was traveling yesterday but have time now to try again.
@wolfwoman There's also a GoGetFunding page now, if that works better. Thank you, either way! Every dollar is a huge help. Thank you so much.
https://gogetfunding.com/oxygen-for-5-year-old-recovering-from-pneumonia/
@MLClark So much easier, thank you! Maybe ko-fi only allows searches if you sign up?
@wolfwoman I'm confused by the "search" part. This is my ko-fi page. When in the process does it bounce you out?
ko-fi.com/mlclarkwriter
@MLClark Just like the noise in the engine that stops when you want your mechanic to hear it. 😉 It worked perfectly on the 3rd try!
@wolfwoman Hah! Oh my goodness, I want to give you an EXTRA big hug for all your determination to help out. 🤗
Thank you SO much. May the day reward you with rest and joy.
@MLClark Are there other funds being raised for this, and who are the fund-raisers?
@MisterE The fundraisers are you folks, folks on Twitter, folks on Mastodon, and friends who know me offline. I sorely, sorely, sorely wish there were other sources to turn to, but here in Colombia there aren't many options for folks who aren't affiliated under health insurance. I've been the family's only lifeline this past month. Very frustrating. Not a situation I'd planned to have consume my life - but it's *almost* over. Final hurdle is oxygen until he's covered under his dad's work health.
@MisterE I know I can't use GoFundMe and the like because my living location conflicts with rules about starting an account. Are you saying that those rules don't apply on this site?
@MLClark I don't know. As I said, check it out. Also, Google this:
Colombian fundraising
Might be some good sources here.
@MisterE I'm fully aware of mainstream fundraising options. I used a Colombian-based one in pandemic to help another family, and the problem with that system is that it was set up for Colombian donors - North American donors kept having trouble navigating the site, because our payment systems are different. Trust me: I've been through this before. Cheers.
@MLClark Yeah. Good luck.
@MLClark I forgot to ask:
Have you gone through the Catholic church to see about help?
@MisterE Me, personally? No.
César has asked his community *and* a woman who works at the clinic where his son had his third surgery promised to try to do fundraising - but she never followed through, and his local church donations from mass for the rest of this process were piddling, because the congregation is poor. His church itself didn't have any funds on offer for any step in this process. (There's a lot of need here. Not surprising.)
@MisterE I appreciate the thought behind your questions, MisterE - so here's a laugh for you from GoGetFunding's restrictions page. I'm still trying to figure out if their payment system, MangoPay, will grant me access. (Most majors, like Stripe, do not work with Colombia, even though my bank account is Canadian.)
@MisterE Thanks, MisterE! *So far* I haven't been blocked from GoGetFunding - the campaign is pending review, but it linked up with PayPal no problem, and I didn't see any other regional restrictions that could be grounds for them deleting the campaign (as is the case on North American sites). So, much obliged for your help! If it goes live, this will help a lot. Cheers!
@MLClark Excellent! Best to you.
Thank you so much, ML! ♥️
You are so sweet and so supportive.
It is truly appreciated, as there is no help for me in Sweden, at this time.
I need to just catch up a little on bills, be able to buy food.
I just have to make it one month, and then I will get to the USA, and I'll be in much better shape. ♥️
@richquaal Thank you so much for signal-boosting! I'm still definitely out-of-pocket for the rest of the oxygen, but I know folks are tapped out most everywhere. There's just so much need in every corner of our world. Thank you for your presence with this little slice of the whole. 💙
i was listening to you talk on Spreaker and appreciate your ideals as well as the help you coordinate for César and his family. i hope you all breathe easier with a little help
@richquaal I genuinely breathe a little easier just knowing I'm not alone with the full weight of the ask, so thank you again for that - and for listening to the podcast! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope the episode found you faring well and feeling supported by your communities in turn.
This morning I'm 1/6th of the way to this urgent goal: $503 of $3000CAD for oxygen for a child still recovering from pneumonia, his lungs having undergone three surgeries & three rounds of stem cell therapy, & his levels of bacterial infection low but not gone. Pneumonia is the world's number one killer of children under five; thank you to everyone who donated and helped him turn five on January 31. This is the last hurdle. Please spread my ask if you can. #CoSoMutualAid
ko-fi.com/mlclarkwriter