wish I was

I got an email today from someone whose address I didn't recognize, and the subject line was "please help me!" and thought what in the world is this? I actually figured it was another Ethiopian/South African bank scheme, since it went in to my spam folder. But something told me to read this one, and I'm glad I did.

You guys remember poeticacceptance.com? You know, the site I started that was supposed to be a charity site that collected donations to help pay for funeral expenses for families who lost babies? Yes well, I haven't yet been able to afford to get the actual charity/non-profit status, and so there hasn't been a lot of traffic because I don't want to get in trouble for collecting a bunch of money, know what I mean? But the site is still there and it gets a few hits a day, and today it got a hit from a woman whose sister lost her son. He was born prematurely (29 weeks) and ended up getting Necrotizing Entercolitis - the same thing that Nova had that caused him to need the colostomy, which caused the infection that killed him. The baby was just 10 days old, and the NEC was too far gone to correct and he passed away.

This woman contacted me on behalf of her sister, in hopes that I could help with the funeral expenses. Unfortunately, I can't. But what I am doing is contacting the funeral home and several churches in the area in hopes that I can find some folks in her community to help her out. The plot is paid for, and the funeral home has agreed to donate most of their services for free, but there are other expenses that she'll need to pay for. The major thing at this point is going to be the balance of the funeral charges. I know that the mother has been out of work for 2 weeks, and because the baby was air lifted to a hospital far from the family's home, there are some hefty long distance/cell phone charges. And of course, being out of work means that her household bills are probably going to be getting behind, so I'm hoping that I can manage something for her. It's just wrong for a mother who's just lost a child to have to worry about finances right now. I mean, the funeral home bill is nearly $2000. I'd hate to know what full price would be!

So you guys do me a favor and do some praying/meditating/warm thinking/finger crossing for this family, please? Just listening to the story has me right back where I was the day after Nova died, worrying about the bills! I wish I could just write her a check. Most days, I'm glad I'm not wealthy, but on days like today I wish I was crazy rich.

Seth Micah McGee, meaning "the Anointed Prophet," was born August 6, 2006, at Good Shepherd Medical Center, and went to be with our Lord Thursday, August 17, 2006, at Baylor University Center in Dallas. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, August 21, 2006, at Welch Funeral Home Garden Court, with the Revs. Billy and Ronnie McGee officiating. Burial will follow in Grace Hill Cemetery. Seth is survived by his parents, Samuel and Miranda McGee of Longview; brother, Sean McGee; grandparents, Billy and Beverly McGee of Longview, Carla McGee of Houston, and Robyn Mehrens and Mark Mehrens of Longview; great-grandparents, Sonny and Gay McGee of Longview, Edna McClain of Mayfield, Kentucky, Fran and Johnny Rowden of Longview, and Jess and Deana Hayes of Pritchett; great-great-grandmother, Irene Thomas of South Carolina; uncles and aunts, Chris and Carlene McGee of Longview, Donny and Meagan Watts of Longview, and Mallory and Bill Edmonds; aunt, Tammy McGee of Houston; uncles, Mason Mehrens of Longview, Steven McGee of Longview, and Scott, Shawn and Brad Meade of Cleveland, Ohio; and numerous cousins. The family will receive friends 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, August 21, 2006, at Welch Funeral Home. An online registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the obituaries link.

Donations can be sent to:

Samuel and Miranda McGee
c/o Church of Faith
1201 E. Morgan
Longview TX 75601