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If you have been reading my blog for a little while now you have heard me talk about my sweet, amazing, strong nephew (Corbin) who has faced three heart surgeries in the first 3 years of his life. Two of which were before he was 6 months old, one was when he was under a week old. It’s horrible, and not often something we want to talk about, but it is something we need to think about. If you’re like most of us, you do not have the extra money lying around. Even with GREAT medical insurance the amount my brother (Dennis) and sister-n-law (Marley) were left paying out-of-pocket is enough to leave any family stressed. Oh yes, even with health insurance, GREAT health insurance families are left with copays, deductibles, food, and so much more. Sadly, many families are left wondering how to raise money for a medical crisis.

WOW, thinking back to everything Marley and Dennis did for their little Corbin, and I don’t know the half of it. They still owe money, but both say they feel humbled after learning how giving the world is. They lived 16 hours away from home for the first 6 months of Corbin’s life. For the 1st month they slept at the hospital, and stayed at the Ronald McDonald, which thank goodness for places like that.  Once Corbin was released from the hospital they had to rent an apartment, on top of pay their mortgage at home. My brother was blessed to be able to stay with his wife and new baby boy. See, just when you think people don’t care anymore, something happens that restores your faith. My brother was able to stay away from work for 6 months, PAID because the people he works with donated their days off to him.  Imagine 40 hours a week for 6 months, all so he could be with his wife and new baby when they needed him most.   This is only the start of things, people rock…

When they finally got word they were going to be able to come home, I flew up to meet them and help them drive back. They hadn’t slept well in 6 months. Corbin had a strict feeding schedule, ever two hours, and they took turns with the duty. My brother returned to work, and the aftermath of the medical bills hit. I know they were prepared, but WOW and Corbin still had one more surgery left.  I remember feeling so sad for them, they wanted to badly to enjoy being home with their little boy, but the medical bills were getting the best of them, and the thought of another surgery with more bills didn’t make things.  They decided to try to raise money for their next trip, they both knew there was a chance they would be gone another 6 months, and with they were already having a hard time keeping their head above water. 

See going into this surgery Marley was a little more prepared, and thankfully had more time to plan or she might not have ever known how many people wanted to help them during their time of need. Marley and Dennis raised money several ways, and out of everything they tried these three were the most helpful.  

How to raise Money for a Medical Crisis

Garage Sale

My sister-n-law always seems to have good luck with garage sales. Marley told me is was a great way to raise enough to pay for gas and snacks for the drive there and back.  They had a lot of items to sale, and their friends and family also donated items for them to sale.  

Fundraising Event

I was so happy to see Marley’s fundraising event turn out as good as it did.  She worked so hard on it, and it proved to be a great way to reach out to those in our community. It also gave my brother and sister-n-law something to focus on so they did not sit and think about what was fixing to happen. It was the first time I had seen my brother and sister-n-law smile, relax, and have fun sense Corbin was born.  

Online Fundraising

Out of everything Marley and Dennis did to raise money for my nephew online fundraising opened doors they did not know were possible. The reason they started an online fundraising campaign was so family and friends who lived elsewhere had a place to donate, but it turned into so much more.  Places like GiveForward is an online fundraising website that can help you earn money during your time of need.  If you think people do not donate to these type of things, you are wrong.  I can tell you that first hand, because I do.  

I also teach my children to be giving, and I always involve them in donating.  I donate a little to the big organizations, but honestly try to keep my focus on the more personal campaigns.  If were to ask someone who knows me they would say I am a very giving person.  The reason I am so giving is becasue of the way I grew up, and watching my brother and Marley deal with everything they did, and watching how people who didn’t even know them donated to them lifted their spirits.  There are so many out there that need help, and just don’t know where to turn.

How To Raise Money For A Medical Crisis with GiveForward

GiveForward allows you to create a fundraiser to raise money for help with medical bills, vet bills, funeral expenses, medical bankrupts and more. GiveForward is a website that allows users to set up a fundraising website, and it’s one of the best ways to raise money for a loved one, or friend who is in need.

GiveForward is the #1 platform to start a medical fundraiser and is the only website with fundraising coaches. The fundraising coach’s help you with ideas to raise money online, which I am sure can be a huge benefit. When Marley and Dennis set up their online fundraising account they did not have a fundraising coach, we spend hours upon hours researching ideas. In the end, it was the best way to raise money to help with medical bills, but having a fundraising coach could have made the process easier. There would have been someone to answer questions, and help with the fundraising plan.

GiveForward has been helping people raise money since 2008. They have helped thousands of people raise millions of dollars online for:

• Cancer treatment
• Transplants
• Funeral costs
• Disaster-relief 
• Medical expenses

GiveForward is a team who is committed to helping people bring their fundraising plans to life, and being there to support them through their fundraising experience.

How GiveForward Works

Using GiveForward is an easy process, they know it is a big decision that takes courage, and they are there to help make the prices as easy as possible.  First you will set up a fundraising page. This is a place where you will tell your story, and be specific about how the money raised will help your loved one who is in need.

Each fundraiser will be assigned to a personal coach, and you will be provided with contact information. I do suggest taking advantage of this feature, they are trained professionals who do this daily. I am sure they can help you get the most out of your online fundraiser. It’s worth a shot, and you are not paying anything extra for this help. Like I mentioned earlier, I believe this would have been a huge help when we set up our online fundraising account.

Spreading the word, and thankfully we live in a techy world where almost everyone is on a social network. I can only speak for myself, when I see someone’s story online I almost always read it. Before I donate I read their story; probably cry because the story breaks my heart, and donate what I can. My nephew’s surgeries, and being there to see how a medical crisis can tear up a family has opened my eyes. I might not be able to donate 100s of dollars, but the way I look at it is every little bit helps!  If I can only afford to donate $5, that money is enough to get someone something to eat that they might not have had.  

Also, be sure to share with family and friends who might life far away, or are likely to support your fundraiser. Marley and Dennis were so succesful with their fundraising account because of family and friends.  Everyone shared the online fundraising account with people who didn’t live close, and they shared it with people who they were close to, and so on.  Before they knew it people they didn’t even know the people who were donating.  People rock, the money not only helped Dennis and Marley, but it lifted their spirits.  They couldn’t belive how giving people were, people they didn’t even know had donated to help their little family.  It was life changing for them, and witnessing the impact it had on them changed my way of thinking.  

I love hearing stories like this online fundraising account that was set up for Amelia. The account was set up with GiveForward for Amelia, and there was over $64,000 raised to help her battle breast cancer. It’s a touching video, which helps restore you faith, and remind you there are so many people out there who are willing to help. People who would never be reached without places like GiveForward.

Two victims of the Boston Maratho bombings raised over $881 to help them with lifetime costs of their injuries.

There are more touching success stories from people who have raised money to help them with during their time of need on www.GiveForward.com. It’s truly amazing things to see people coming together to help one another!

Online funding has helped my loved ones during their time of need, people they did not know reached out and donated to help their sweet baby boy who is now 5 years old, and the most rotten, sweetest boy you will ever meet.  Dennis and Marley are truly blessed in so many ways, and we are blessed to have their experience to learn from.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a medical crisis GiveForward might be exactly what they need to help them reach out to people who are willing to help.  You can learn more about GiveForward by visiting their website www.GiveForward.com.

If you want to check out another post about GiveForward from someone who has experienced how much GiveForward can help, and does care head over to Life Rearranged.  She is GiveForwards Brand Ambassador, as well as someone who has been in need and experienced how much they can help.  

If you are a blogger be sure to join GiveForward’s affiliate program, and earn a little something for helping spread the word about a program that can help people during