Dawn Jones needs our help for health!

In short, Dawn Michelle Colman Jones needs our help to get her to the 2014 Pulmonary Hypertension Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in mid-June. It's an imperative life extension event for her.

Her story:

Dawn has been fighting Pulmonary Hypertension for well over a decade; in fact, this year she will be a 14 year survivor! She has four girls that have kept her going and her will to beat this deadly disease. Her kids were young in 2000 when she was given the devastating news that she only had one to three years to live. Now, she is a grandmother to three with another on the way. This gives her more incentive to FIGHT! (More about this disease with no cure to end this message.)

Let me tell you about Dawn and then why I am asking for this size donation. Dawn has a disease that most people wouldn't have survived this long. She has the will of a bull and the heart of gold. She is unable to work now, but you bet that she keeps busy donating her time and limited resources to those in need! Around Christmas she worked tirelessly on Bears that Care (I may have worded that incorrectly, but you get the picture). EVERY DAY she was at the stores with her grandson (s) and daughters or whomever could make it with her picking out toys for the children that would otherwise have no presents under the tree from Santa. Most people would be sitting at their computers buying items for family members or running through the mall scooping up "things". This fine lady knows the true meaning of Christmas! 

She is a ten year member of the Ridgely, MD Fire Department Ladies Auxillary. She had to take breaks from time to time due to her many hospitalizations. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD is her second home.  

I'm not done yet! She also is a member of The Family Readiness Group. She takes care of Soldier's families! I am sure that I have missed quite a few things that she has done for people when she should be resting or one would expect her to be "down". She says "She has PH, but PH DOES NOT HAVE HER!" Doesn't she have a great attitude?

Prior to her having to leave the work force, she was a Public Communications Officer. This had to be a stressful job as it's a 911 operator position. She handled the mic. She is well known in the police and fire; first responder circles. To this day, I remember when my boss told me that she was diagnosed with her disease and I was told she was terminal. I moved 110 miles away shortly thereafter and we reconnected over Face Book a few years ago. Imagine my delight when she was still full of spunk and vinegar!

If all of her good deeds don't make your heart happy, then here is another nugget for you. Her oldest grandson has only known his Mom Mom as a sick Mom Mom, but a GREAT Mom Mom. She has so many pictures of him on the hospital bed with her. The drive to the hospital is about two hours from their home and that is when the traffic is decent. Her grandson sees the homeless people on the way to the hospital on the streets and park benches and wants to help them. The goodness in her heart has been passed down through the generations! She has made a promise to him to take the homeless people toiletries and food in the near future. This is all he knows is his Mom Mom going back and forth to the hospital for many, many stays. She raised four wonderful girls and her three grandchildren are following suit. I am so very proud of her family. She may not be rich, but she is rich with love. She only gets a small amount of disability and lives with a daughter, the daughter's fiance and their two children.

This leads me to the need for $2,500.00. There is a Pulmonary Hypertension Conference every year and it's VITAL that patients and care givers go as this is a tough disease to treat and new things are happening and not everything trickles down to all the doctors throughout the states. For her to have survived this long, it is EXTREMELY imperative that she goes again this year. Last year, she got a scholarship, but this year the conference would not fund her trip. The trip is in June for three days in Indianapolis, IN. She would able to meet with top doctors and nurses in the field ONE on ONE! I can not stress how much she needs this. She had an incredibly bad year last year and we need to get her stable. The funds would cover a plane ticket, registration, and meals and other items related to the conference.

You can learn more about PH at phassociation.org. You will find this disease has no cure and is extremely hard to regulate and treat.

I feel that she has given so much of herself for the benefit of all in the community that it is time to pay it forward to her. Please, even if you do not know her - trust me, she is one unique lady. She loves hard and true. So please, if you can only do $1.00 or $5.00, it will add up and help. Several $20.00 donations will get her to goal! Anything, please! Also, please circulate this around - time is running out. The trip is this month; June!