Can you help save a life?

I am reposting this from my friend Lisa's blog. Her daughter is very ill and needs a kidney transplant desperately.

Things continue to be difficult. But where there is life, there is hope.
I’m forcing myself to blog so I can update all my dear friends and family about what is going on with my sweet Sunshine Girl, Marielle, as her kidneys fail. It looks like we are on the way to the local emergency room again tonight–she’s in terrible pain and a bit lethargic.
After continued difficultly getting calls returned and kidney donor evaluation packages send to those who have come forward to donate their kidneys, we’ve given up on the Philadelphia hospital of ever finding a living kidney donor. They’ve recently told us they will only test family members and the closest of friends. They’ve taken it upon themselves to decide who our friends are. Philadelphia has only tested 3 donors in 4 months. To say I am furious is an understatement.

But there is hope. We are in the process of transferring Marielle’s care to NY Presbyterian-Columbia University Hospital (NYP) in hopes their additional living-donor kidney programs will save her life. Not only will NYP consider family members as donors, but are willing to evaluate EVERYONE (friends, associates and kind strangers) who wants to donate a kidney. That’s right…EVERYONE regardless of blood type, antibody mismatch, age, etc. They offer several kidney donor options for us:
Compatible Living Donor
Incompatible Donor Program

Paired Donor Exchange Program
Deceased Donor Program

Marielle will only match 1 in 50 people in the general population (average person matches 1 in 2). I am asking EVERYONE who has ever loved a child as deeply as I do my daughter to please consider being a living-kidney donor to her. You might be the one who can save my daughter’s life.

If you would like to receive a donor consent form to see if you could be a potential donor, please print out this form:
kidneydonorquestionnaire
Then send it to Joan Kelly either by email at kellyja@nyp.org or fax (212) 305-9642. Be sure to put MARIELLE CARROCCIO as the Potential Recipient’s Name.
Please pass this information along to anyone and everyone.
I continue to be comforted by the tremendous amount of love and support from all of you. Thank you seems to fall short.

My sweet friend, Clara of MimiKattini bestowed this sweet little honor on me... the Smile award! THANK YOU Clara! You have such a sweet spirit and always cheer me up. You inspire me to be a better person through the Boutique Angels by being such a cheerful and motivating leader.

Okay, so here are the CHARACTERISTICS for the SMILE award;

1. Must display a cheerful attitude.

2. Must love one another.

3. Must make mistakes.

4. Must learn from others.

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.

6. Must love life.

7. Must love kids.

And, well every thing has rules...so these are the RULES for the SMILE award:

1. The recipient must link back to the award’s creator.

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.

3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award.

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.

7. You must thank your giver.

AND, now the award goes to:

Amy of Tote and Tee - she is the only other person in the world besides me who loves Mondays. She inspires me to always be productive even if she doesn't realize she does. She is just a motivated person and it really shows.

Toni of Toni Hamel Designs - a fellow Louisiana girl who has such talent. Great designs, wonderful photography skills - I wanna be like her when I grow up.

Karen of The Sweetest Thing Photography - This has got to be one of the sweetest ladies on the Earth. Her kids are just gorgeous - her photography is amazing - and she just always has something nice to say to everyone. She works with so many different designers but always shows our creations off wonderfully.

Jenny of Fabric Bliss - this woman loves fabric even more than me and that is saying something. I absolutely laugh out loud with every newsletter I receive from her. She speaks to me and really has my same sense of humor. I wish I could write like her - honestly - it just comes across as if she is standing right there with you having a conversation. If you aren't on her newsletter list then you should be.

Susan of My Sweet Imaginations - she is an amazingly talented children's artist, but more importantly she has given of herself and her talent to help the Boutique Angels. Her art always graces each of our auctions when we are having a launch. I haven't seen her around the Boutique Community much lately but she always brings a smile to my face with her grace and generosity.