A Touch of Scarlett
Donation protected
I, Ashley, am raising money for my cousin's family. Recently, Scarlett, my cousin's daughter, had a life threatening emergency due to a bleeding disorder she was born with. Not only was this their worst nightmare to come to life due to a, typical for others, growth milestone of menstruation, but now, in the aftermath, medical bills have begun to add up. Donations are greatly appreciated to continue paying off medical bills this month before it becomes a bigger debt and burden. Even with reasonable insurance, there are deductibles for medical services and life saving medications the family needs to have a constant supply of, totaling $10,000. The costs incurred include several overnights in the hospital, life saving treatments, and a transport from Santa Rosa to Oakland, where treatment that was more specialized could be performed. If you feel so inclined to assist and give, it would relieve some of the financial burden at this time. Every contribution of any size helps and is greatly appreciated.
To learn more about the cause you are supporting, read on…
Scarlett is an absolute joy. Most recently, and amazingly, I saw her FIVE star performance as Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz in January. This girl can sing, and perform--mind you, from a family full of those who avoid the spotlight and would maybe be C- stagehands in the background! Listening to her sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” had me in chills and tearing with such joy. But, that’s how it is with Scarlett...she finds a way to amaze me, and those around her, whenever we see her-- from being generous and caring with her younger brother and cousins, for being brave and writing a speech for her graduation, to being welcoming and enthusiastic to participants at the Unite Walk, for being grateful and excited for organizing her birthday excursion to Great America---she, even at a young age, can already teach a master class in gratitude, bravery, humility, strength, and empathy. Thinking about others and having a supreme sense of empathy is innate in Scarlett and it has been further honed, no doubt, from all the experience she’s had being around pediatric nurses and doctors so often. That, and knowing what it’s like to be different and rely on the help and expertise of others constantly. In fact, Scarlett has wanted to be a nurse for many years before her 12th birthday, knowing that she wants to be there for kids who need it just like she has benefitted from.
Scarlett has a rare, autosomal, inherited, incurable bleeding disorder called Platelet Storage Pool Disorder, PSPD, which her mother Kari also suffers from. Platelets are small parts of the blood cells that help wounds heal and prevent bleeding by forming clots. The primary function of platelets are adhesion, aggregation, activation and secretion and this bleeding disorder means that they are missing the glue that holds the platelets together to form the clot.
The family has had no choice but to learn to live with this reality, always being nearby to the emergency room, having life saving medications on hand, knowing constant doctor visits and testing as the norm, and avoiding or limiting activities such as riding a bike, being on sports teams and many other common childhood activities. They have also done advocacy, educational, and fundraising work for the Hemophilia Foundation and organize the annual Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk.
Even with all the education and experience, nothing could prepare them for the nightmare that happened in Oct-Nov 2020 (you can read Kari’s blog below). Scarlett’s roller coaster and life threatening 6 days in the hospital are nothing short of remarkable--both in what she had to endure and in the ways she faced it all with strength. We are no doubt relieved that Scarlett is well and healing and also amazed at how much she has gone through even before being a teenager. Thank you again for your support. It means and helps so very much.
Kari's Blog and recount of the event
To learn more about the cause you are supporting, read on…
Scarlett is an absolute joy. Most recently, and amazingly, I saw her FIVE star performance as Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz in January. This girl can sing, and perform--mind you, from a family full of those who avoid the spotlight and would maybe be C- stagehands in the background! Listening to her sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” had me in chills and tearing with such joy. But, that’s how it is with Scarlett...she finds a way to amaze me, and those around her, whenever we see her-- from being generous and caring with her younger brother and cousins, for being brave and writing a speech for her graduation, to being welcoming and enthusiastic to participants at the Unite Walk, for being grateful and excited for organizing her birthday excursion to Great America---she, even at a young age, can already teach a master class in gratitude, bravery, humility, strength, and empathy. Thinking about others and having a supreme sense of empathy is innate in Scarlett and it has been further honed, no doubt, from all the experience she’s had being around pediatric nurses and doctors so often. That, and knowing what it’s like to be different and rely on the help and expertise of others constantly. In fact, Scarlett has wanted to be a nurse for many years before her 12th birthday, knowing that she wants to be there for kids who need it just like she has benefitted from.
Scarlett has a rare, autosomal, inherited, incurable bleeding disorder called Platelet Storage Pool Disorder, PSPD, which her mother Kari also suffers from. Platelets are small parts of the blood cells that help wounds heal and prevent bleeding by forming clots. The primary function of platelets are adhesion, aggregation, activation and secretion and this bleeding disorder means that they are missing the glue that holds the platelets together to form the clot.
The family has had no choice but to learn to live with this reality, always being nearby to the emergency room, having life saving medications on hand, knowing constant doctor visits and testing as the norm, and avoiding or limiting activities such as riding a bike, being on sports teams and many other common childhood activities. They have also done advocacy, educational, and fundraising work for the Hemophilia Foundation and organize the annual Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk.
Even with all the education and experience, nothing could prepare them for the nightmare that happened in Oct-Nov 2020 (you can read Kari’s blog below). Scarlett’s roller coaster and life threatening 6 days in the hospital are nothing short of remarkable--both in what she had to endure and in the ways she faced it all with strength. We are no doubt relieved that Scarlett is well and healing and also amazed at how much she has gone through even before being a teenager. Thank you again for your support. It means and helps so very much.
Kari's Blog and recount of the event
Organizer
Ashley Valdez
Organizer
Sunnyvale, CA
