Mister and Sister have been taking swim lessons for a couple of years now. It was at the pool that Mister met his friend Andrew. They were on swim team together this last season. Here’s Mister encouraging Andrew before a race…
Andrew is a wonderfully gifted and talented boy that is battling Leukemia. He is wise beyond his years, and he has endured A LOT over the past couple of years. Over the summer, Mister participated in a Swimathon, in honor of his friend, to benefit the Friends of Kids with Cancer. He’s had more visits to the hospital and cancer treatment center than any child should have to endure.
When someone in the family has cancer, it affects the entire family. Andrew is one of six kids. His siblings pretend play recently included using plastic wrap to “have a port” just like Andrew.
Andrew’s parents recently learned that a portion of Andrew’s cancer treatment medications, the antibody treatments which he’d already received, was denied coverage by their insurance coverage. Medicine that had been covered by their previous carrier and that they thought was still covered. The antibody treatment helps prevent serious infection in an immune system compromised by chemotherapy. Needless to say, it is a treatment that he needed, and still needs. That said, his parents have a $21,000 medical bill to pay, and do not have the means to pay it.
Giving forward is a way of life for my family. When giving forward gets personal, though, it takes on a whole new level of meaning. Which is why I’m bringing this to you. I’m asking you to consider donating to help Andrew’s parents pay for his cancer treatments. Today is the 15th. Can you give $15 to help pay for the cancer treatments that the insurance denied coverage for AFTER he received them?
I’m also asking you to consider sharing the Give Forward for Carrying the Shah’s campaign on your social media channels. You can learn more about Andrew’s journey on the Carrying the Shah’s Facebook Page and you can donate by clicking on the widget above or by visiting the Give Forward for Carrying the Shah’s campaign
After I tweeted about the campaign, GiveForward reached out to me and agreed to work with me to help raise the funds. Give Forward has agreed to contribute $25 per blog, up to $1,000, to write about the fundraiser, what the Shah’s are going through, and talk about helping in times of need.
They’ve agreed to give an additional $200 if I can get 30 bloggers to post by the 24th of November.
You can learn more, and report your links, at
https://thatbaldchick.com/about-me/tbc-giveforward-for-andrew/
I am willing to give any blogger that posts about this campaign a 150×150 button ad in my sidebar for one month. To get the sidebar ad, simply select the Trading Spaces option on my ad page or at at:
https://app.passionfruitads.com/marketplace/site/that-bald-chick after submitting your post link, and I’ll approve it.
That is amazing that GiveForward stepped up like that. That speaks highly of them.
I love that Give Forward is ready to help Andrew and his family. Its horrible how cancer effects all of a family.
I didn’t realize that Give Forward directly got involved with campaigns ran through them! It’s awesome for them to participate and help Andrew and his family!!
Great that Give Forward is involved – I shared the link on my Facebook page.
It’s hard to read stories like these especially when they’re so close to home. Tweeting and sharing this. PMing you separately.
This is so sad! Glad that Giving Forward is helping out.
You’re doing an amazing thing in helping this family, and Give Forward is also to be commended for supporting this.
We know first hand what it’s like to receive medical care that you thought was covered by insurance and then have it denied because your insurance provider switched. Though it’s not as bad as Andrew’s story by any means, medical bills add up quickly!
You just have to wonder where the people behind these decisions are. How on earth can you justify not covering the services and medication a little boy needs? Regardless, it’s wonderful that he and his family have people in their lives who are willing to help. You all are in my thoughts.
That’s incredibly sad! I hope and pray that they reach their goal. I shared this link via Twitter to help spread the word.
I love Giving Forward and how they are helping Andrew. And kudos to you, Virginia, for doing what you are doing… it’s really touching and inspiring!
This poor family. I am going to pass this on so that others hear about it. It is great that GiveForward is willing to do this as well.
Oh man, what a terrible thing for such a little kid to deal with! Glad to know of organizations like Giving Forward stepping up and making a difference.
This breaks my heart. It is so sad when family is forced to worry about finances when their child is sick.
Give Forward is such a great way to get involved with a cause too. I have used it to donate many times.
It’s always so sad when a kid has cancer. But it’s great to see people like you getting together to support them. I will do all I can to help.
Wow how sad! I’m so glad to hear about Giving Forward! How awesome. For sure sharing this story!
This is so wonderful. I love hearing about companies that care like Giving Forward does. I wish I could help but my husband is also going through cancer treatments and we are struggling ourselves. But I’m praying for this little guy. You are an amazing person for doing this for his family.
What a very nice idea for them to do that. It is great that they came out with such a generous gift. Thank you for sharing.
It makes me so sad to hear that Andrew has cancer. But I’m so glad Giving Forward stepped up to help out!
How amazing that Give Forward has stepped up and agreed to give for Andrew’s treatment. I hate hearing that insurance companies won’t cover a treatment that will help him get through his chemo.
This is so terrible. I thought that insurance companies couldn’t deny coverage anymore.
Give Forward is an amazing organization, I have always loved what they do. I’ll be sending good thoughts and I know this will be taken care of for this loving family.
You are a wonderful person for helping this little boy and his family. It’s people like you that make this world a better place.
What a beautiful way to help. I have a friend who’s 2 year old was just recently diagnosed.
That is so great how they stepped up to the plate. I wish treatment and medications didnt cost so much.
We just found out first hand how much those bills can add up when you thought your insurance covered something and then they don’t. It’s never fun trying to dig yourself out of a medical bill hole. I am glad Give Forward is there to help!
Thank you Virginia for your caring and generous spirit. Cancer does involve a whole family no matter how big or small. ehen I was in high one of my classmate’s little sister who was in my younger brother’s class came down with leukemia. She was the youngest of 7. Thank God one of her sisters was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. .. it was not easy on either one of them but it worked! My heart goes out to Andrew and his family. I will keep them in prayer and will happily share this GiveForward campaign on my blog and social media channels. Suporting a child through cancer is hard enough as it is, no one going through this should be burdened by this kind of financial stress. God bless you for what you are doing.
Thank you for sharing this message. I am so glad to see they are contributing! I am wishing you much success in reaching the family’s goal for coverage.
So neat you and Give Forward are helping. I just had one of my main meds denied by the Insurance company… I just can’t comprehend they could do this to a child. Something so wrong in the world.
It’s infuriating that a child who needs medical care can’t get it because of an insurance issue. That is just all types of wrong!
Insurance can be extremely frustrating. I love that you are using Give Forward to help the family. Hopefully, they can raise the funds they need to get him the help he needs!
What a selfless thing you are doing with this. I love how Give Forward is stepping in to help. I can’t even imagine what that family is going through and hope to never experience it. The insurance issues are just wrong and infuriate me. I will be posting to my social channels for you, and them.
It always breaks my heart when I hear about a child developing an illness. I am so sorry for your friend Andrew, I hope that his family is able to raise all the money they need!
What a sweetie! Children giving back is the purest form to me. I love that the good principles you are teaching them.
What a wonderful thing that you’re doing for a friend. I hope we can end childhood cancer soon!
I’m so sorry for Andrew. I know battling cancer at such a young age can be really hard emotionally and mentally. It can be hard to understand. While it is hard for anyone, I often feel its worse for those who are younger. When my cousins daughter was diagnosed at the age of 4 with brain cancer, no one had much hope. She is now almost 11 and getting stronger every day! We’ve lost many family members to cancer. It’s such a terrible things. So thank you for all you do for spreading awareness and sharing your own stories.
Aw that is really sweet of them! I shared on Facebook!
Im so impressed with whatever I have heard with GiveForward, Thanks for sharing all of this. It is inspiring.
What a beautiful way to use the platform you have built through your blog. I love that Giving Forward is partnering with you on this.
Stories like this break my heart. I hope this will help raise awareness and money to help pay that medical bill, and bravo to Give Forward for helping!
So thoughtful of you to help Andrew and his family. It is sad that his medical care was denied. I hope you are able to raise enough money to help cover his medial expenses.
How wonderful that Giving Forward is helping out like this. Spreading awareness through your blog is such a wonderful step towards ending this disease.
I hate cancer! It’s a great thing that you are using your blog for good, especially to help those in your community!
Cancer is PITA, I lost my grand-mother, great-grandmother, and Dad to it, and my mom has battled twice, and I went through a Medical Nightmare of my own that started on New Year’s Eve 2011 where the Specialist didn’t think I’d even make it to ring in 2012. One of my young nephews is also a survivor. That is amazing that GiveForward stepped up to help like that!
Oh my gosh on the insurance denying what used to be covered. Stuff like that is so frustrating and heart wrenching when a child is involved. And your’e right, giving takes on a whole new meaning when it’s for someone you care about. Sharing your post, and I hope the family meets their goal!
America and their healthcare standards! Its so sad to hear that even the little kids, who are solely dependent upon their family to get help, and if they are struggling the child will struggle. Praying for his family and hope he gets the funds he needs to get the medical treatments he deserves.
I think it is wonderful that you are helping this family. It is great that your son knows how to help others…how sweet! God bless this family!
I love this so much! More than you can imagine and than words can express. Thanks for sharing this and being a part of Give Forward, what a great thing to do! 🙂