Where do you fit in?

Jamie, leader of Jody’s CF (Care & Fundraising) team.

My blog has been taken over today by a good friend who is making a huge difference in our lives!  Continue reading to find out what she’s been up to.                 – Tiffany

Hi, I’m Jamie, a friend of Jody and Tiffany and the leader of Jody’s CF Team. And no, that’s not his team of doctors; it’s his team of supporters, more specifically, Jody’s Care and Fundraising Team. Jody, Tiffany, and their girls mean a lot to me and to my family, so when Jody first heard that the time was right for a transplant, I started to pull together other people who have an interest in helping them through this process, hoping to meet both their physical, daily-life needs and their financial needs.

If you’ve been reading Tiff’s blog or have checked out the website JodyNeedsLungs.com (created by a tech-expert on Jody’s CF Team), you probably know that Jody and Tiffany will have a lot of out-of-pocket expenses for the lung transplant. How much exactly? Well, when they sat down to talk with their transplant social worker, she suggested a fundraising goal of $100,000. Yes, one hundred thousand. The first year post-transplant alone is estimated to cost $70,000.

Why such big numbers? Here are some of the costs associated with a double-lung transplant to help you wrap your mind around it: co-pays and deductibles for the surgery and hospitalization; post-transplant medications, doctor visits, and lab work; gas, parking, temporary lodging for Tiffany in Baltimore. Initially the plan had been for Jody and Tiffany to relocate to Baltimore for a few months after Jody’s discharge post transplant, but they live “close” enough to be able to make a several-times a week commute to Baltimore instead. But since that “close” drive takes 90+ minutes, they will quickly burn through a lot of gas. Depending on the timing of the transplant and Jody’s condition both pre and post transplant, Tiffany may or may not have enough FMLA leave to keep her job, so our fund-raising goals would help to cover some living expenses over that time as well. Finally, with our eyes on the post-transplant costs, it’s easy to forget the consuming weight of their normal medical expenses where deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance for oxygen and medications are already piling high.

So where do you fit in to all of this? Give. Pray. Serve. Join Jody’s CF Team. Read on, because I’d love to give you just a few details about some of those ways you can make a difference.

Give. Jody’s website is set up to securely accept donations in two ways, and you can access both of those at this link: http://www.jodyneedslungs.com/donate.html (You can also contact me at jamie@supportjody.com and I can set you up to mail a check if you prefer). You can give a one-time gift of any amount. Every donation matters, no amount too small, and we mean that. Jody and Tiffany have been so blessed by the donations and fundraising efforts that have been underway since this last fall!

A very wise man, when he heard that I was undertaking the goal of raising money for Jody, advised me not to run in circles creating fundraiser after fundraiser, but instead to find 50 people, 100 people even who would commit to giving $1,000 over the course of a year. That alone would cover their expenses. That’s a big ask indeed, but it makes a big impact. Because we want to make that commitment as easy as possible, we have a 1K CLUB option at http://www.jodyneedslungs.com/donate.html. With that option you can use a card to set up a monthly gift of $83.33. I really challenge you to consider if this is an option for you.

Pray. Take a look at Tiffany’s last blog post and read the prayer she posted to the donor. I’m so moved to see her heart for that person and his or her family. Jody and Tiffany need our prayers too. Prayers for strength, for peace, for healing, for hope. Subscribe to Tiffany’s blog, read what’s going on, and pray for their needs as they arise.

Serve. The Care aspect of Jody’s CF (Caring and Fundraising) Team hasn’t had a whole lot to do yet, but at some point Jody and Tiffany will need meals cooked and housework done. Contact me at jamie@supportjody.com if you’d like to be involved in this capacity as the need arises.

Join Jody’s CF Team. A few fundraisers are in the works, including an auction in October. It’s going to be an exciting event, and we’d love to have you be a part of that day. Please contact me if you are interested in donating an item or interested in helping to prepare for this event. We’d welcome your efforts on the fundraising half of Jody’s CF Team, so contact me at jamie@supportjody.com.

I know that Jody and Tiffany feel humbled and grateful for the help they receive, so on their behalf, thank you. Thank you for the role you have played and will play in their lives. Thank you for helping them to be financially prepared for this transplant!!

I really believe that The Church, the Body of Christ is meant to carry each other in hard times. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) So I challenge you, I ask you to pray and reflect and consider, what can you do to be a part of carrying Jody and his family through this tough season? This transplant may be the ultimate blessing for them, but the road there is hard, and they need you, your encouragement, your love, your gift of time, and yes, gift of money too.

Tags: cystic fibrosis, fundraising