Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Flavor Flav

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div>A devastating tragedy has struck Mercedes family once again, leaving our community heartbroken and in disbelief. Giuliani, just 12 years old, has tragically passed away, and his mother, Mercedes, is now temporarily immobilized following this senseless act of domestic violence.

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<div>This family has already endured immense pain. Six years ago, they woke up to the heartbreaking news of the loss of Mercedes’ oldest children’s father in a mass shooting. Now, once again, we are faced with the unimaginable as an Amber Alert went out for Mercedes' youngest daughter, who was taken shortly after both her brother and mother were shot.

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<div>Giuliani wasn’t just her son—he was her best friend, her firstborn, a light in all of our lives. His sweet spirit and innocence touched everyone he met. The bond between him and his mother was a true testament to the power of unconditional love, one that will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

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<div>As the only surviving parent through both of these unimaginable tragedies, Mercedes now faces an even greater burden. Due to the severity of her injuries, In addition to the profound grief of losing her son, Mercedes is now confronted with the overwhelming challenge of adjusting to a life she never could have imagined.

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<div>All funeral expenses and arrangements have been paid for. Her mother Angelica has started an account where the funds will go. <span>This go fund me is for her two daughters who have lost their fathers during these incredibly difficult time. All funds raised through this campaign will go directly to Mercedes and her children to help with:</span>
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<div>•	Time away from work to grieve and heal

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<div>•	Ongoing household expenses and needs

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<div>•	Counseling and grief support services

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<div>•	Any other needs that may arise during this journey of healing

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<div>We are deeply grateful for your generosity and support as the Ontiveros family navigates through this heartbreaking time. Thank you for standing with them.

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Support Mercedes and family during this difficult time

<div>The brothers of the Lambda Chi Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha are hosting a month long online philanthropy challenge from April 8th - May 3rd, 2024. All proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters located in Pittsburg, KS, directly benefiting the lives of children here in Pittsburg. For each goal reached, the brothers will voluntarily do the challenge associated with the monetary goal which will be recorded and uploaded to Instagram @pittstatelca
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<div>We greatly appreciated your assistance in bettering our community!
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LXA philanthropy with Big Brothers Big Sisters

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<div>My name is Jaimie and I am fundraising for my dearest friends, Amy and Billy. They have nurtured and loved Momo for the past two years and are now able to celebrate his adoption. As a witness to their story I can tell you that this celebration happened because of their perseverance, dedication and willingness to invest everything they could into Momo's well-being. The legal fees are a heavy burden and I am hoping that we as a community can help to ease it.
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<div>I have asked Amy to write the story of their journey. Please take a few minutes to read it and share with everyone. Donate if and what you can.
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<div>752 days in foster care. 740 days as our foster child.
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<div>I will never forget the call. It was a typical Friday morning in October 2021 when I saw the social worker's name on my phone. That call would change our lives forever.
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<div>“We have a baby in the hospital. He’s very tiny and he has several broken bones... would you be interested in taking him in?” the woman asked. In that moment I already knew my answer but I picked up the phone and called my husband. As fate would have it, the baby was at the children’s hospital where my husband, Billy, worked. “I’m going to see him right now,” Billy said. “I’ll call you back.” It was only minutes, but it felt like hours later when Billy said words I will never forget, “Amy, I think we need to take this one.”
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<div>For the next ten days Billy went to visit him every day. I was desperate to know more about the baby that would soon come home to us. Billy would send pictures and I would pray over a tiny infant I’d never met but felt strongly connected to. Twelve days after he entered the hospital, Billy brought that tiny baby home. He was fully wrapped in bandages to immobilize him as his fragile bones healed. He was three months old but the size of a newborn. He was an angel and we loved him instantly.
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<div>It wasn't ideal. I was four months pregnant when that precious angel arrived at my door. We had planned to step away from foster care when we found out I was pregnant. I felt God pulling me to foster care despite the circumstances so we decided emergency placements were what we could offer. We agreed to stabilize our sweet foster baby over the next two to four weeks until a long term placement could be found. The sleepless nights were harder. It had been six years since I had a baby. I felt insecure about my ability to care for a developmentally one month old baby with special needs. However, there was no time to dwell on those thoughts. I had to jump in with both feet to take care of our angel. Two weeks turned into a month and a month turned into three months. Stability, love, nutrition, safety. Every day we provided these four pillars to a baby who had only begun to live and yet had been through so much in his short life. He grew stronger and happier and we adored him. 
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<div>Man makes his plans but God directs his path. After three months in our care, we were told the state would not pursue reunification with the biological parents. Our little foster angel would go up for adoption. My belly was growing bigger by the day and the reality of another baby was suddenly unavoidable. Billy and I sat down to lunch one January afternoon and finally faced the question. Could we possibly take on two babies when we already had a six year old? Could I physically, with handicaps of my own, take care of two babies? Most importantly, what would happen to the baby if he didn’t stay with us?
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<div>There wasn’t much to discuss. We knew what our foster angel needed. His safety was our primary goal and the chance that he could have contact with his abusers was our greatest fear. It was clear that if he was adopted by anyone close to or within the family, that he would be exposed to the people who abused him. We knew he needed to stay with us and we were willing to fight to keep him safe. We also knew we needed to trust that God had a plan and he would give us the strength for what was ahead. Our angel had not come to us by accident. It was divine orchestration that brought us together and therefore a reminder that God would be faithful through the journey.
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<div>We shifted our hearts and minds to adoption. Little did we know what lay ahead. There are times you see dark clouds looming, ominous and threatening, and you prepare to take cover. This, however, was like a tornado that comes suddenly and without warning, hell bent on destruction. The biological parents found a loophole which allowed them to legally arrange an adoption. A sunny unsuspecting day in March became a dark storm we couldn’t flee. By the time we arrived at the courthouse, a private adoption had already been granted. In thirty days
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<div>our foster angel would leave us.
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<div>The grief was unbearable. I was one week away from my due date. The stress was like a mighty wind; a pressure so immense you cannot stand. It was the darkest night of our lives. We cried out to God. On our knees we pled for our son’s life and God’s ultimate plan. We were encouraged to seek legal counsel. We hired a family law attorney who filed an affidavit expressing our concerns to the court. Two months after the private adoption was granted, and one day after the affidavit was filed, the prospective adoptive parent backed out of the adoption. We only spent one night away from our child, and he never left our placement. Even through the storm, God had been faithful.
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<div>It wasn’t a smooth road after the adoptive placement backed out. The road to God’s work is rarely straight or without bumps. In fact it was over a year and a half later that we would see resolution. Without a lawyer the process would have taken years to resolve and forced us to go before a committee to decide our foster angel’s fate. Fortunately, in September 2023, our lawyer filed a motion with the court that finally removed the barrier to adoption. On November 3, 2023 we will officially adopt our son, Vincent Moses Siesel.
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<div>We chose the name Vincent which means “to conquer or prevail.” We affectionately call him, Momo. We have seen incredible transformation over the last two years as we’ve watched a baby grow into a toddler. From infancy, we have watched him fight for each physical milestone with the help of therapy. Momo has prevailed over his start in life with each bond formed between his family, therapists, and teachers. With continued love, support, and treatment (that we are committed to provide) he will conquer much in life. He already has.
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<div>The truth is, we have also changed over the last two years. We are not the same people we were before Momo came to us. We have been stretched beyond what we knew we could bear emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. We knew we needed to fight to keep Momo. We knew the only place he would be truly safe, wholly cared for, and fully loved was in our home.
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<div>WHAT IS A LIFE WORTH? The legal fees we have incurred in our fight for Momo have been astronomical. We were forced to hire private counsel over a year and a half ago and the total in legal bills is $27,000. The state will pay $1,000 to cover legal fees for the actual adoption day, leaving us with $26,000 in legal fees as we fight for Momo's future. It is a travesty that a price ever be put on the welfare and permanency of a child. The life of a child is invaluable, so no matter how long it takes to pay down, it will have been worth every penny.
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<div>If you would like to make a donation to help with the legal fees incurred to save Momo, ANY amount is appreciated. We know that whatever you give, God will multiply. Thank you for joining us in this incredible mission. We give all the glory to God for allowing us to be a part of Momo’s story, and we thank you for becoming part of it as well.
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<div>God bless you.
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Help the Siesel Family Adopt!

Lincoln Alexander joined our family this past January. He was a month early, for which he was promptly grounded. Since then he’s been a joyful and amazing baby. 

When asked about his name I’ve always shrugged it off and explained it’s just something we liked and agreed on. Not untrue but still not the full truth. As some of you know I tend to be a bit more deliberate and thoughtful in my choices. He’s named after heroes, inventors, entrepreneurs and leaders. Ancient and modern. Real and fictional. Today our small champion faces his first battle in life. 

In recent weeks our little guy started having problems eating, losing 12% of his body mass in three weeks. This past Wednesday a lucky catch by a sharp ER doctor led to a CT scan that revealed a tumor in his brain and an increased volume of fluid displaced by the tumor. 

He and mom were Care-Flighted from Reno to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Dad drove and caught up to them in California. The amazing team quickly got to work. By the week’s end he had undergone two procedures, one of them to remove part of the mass on his brain. 

Pathology results will determine the next steps of his treatment. 

If you’d like to help Link in his please share his story using the link below or even donate if you’re able to.

Baby Lincoln’s road to recovery

<div>My name is Becky Stephens and I am raising money to help our son's college roommate after a life-altering accident.
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<div>Tonderai is a senior at Kansas University. He is an international student from Gaborone, Botswana and has attended KU since June 2019. He is an economics major with a minor in business and pursuing actuarial credentials. He has been active on campus in different student organizations and working as a desk assistant in McCarthy and Stouffer Halls. Tonderai is kind, soft-spoken, smart, respectful, and just a great person to be around.
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<div>This February Tonderai fell and he has a spinal injury. He is paralyzed from the waist down and is in St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Overland Park, KS. He has been continuing to take most classes online. However, he needs to finish one class in person and would like to be back on campus from March 28-graduation. He can’t return to his off-campus apartment because it’s on the 3rd floor. We are looking for housing for him that is wheelchair accessible. On days when he isn’t in class, he will need to attend Ability KC for rehabilitation. The physicians and therapists have stated that therapy for the next 6 months is crucial to see improvement.
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<div>We are asking for donations to support Tonderai during this crisis. His family in Botswana is in daily contact with Tonderai but cannot come to be with him during this time. After this happened, my initial reaction was to have him move back in with us in Wichita so we can care for him. But he wants to be on campus to finish school and we realized that the specialists in the KC area are his best chance for recovery. The urgency and needs got bigger and that’s when I reached out to KU parents for help. Many kind people offered donations so we set up this GoFundMe for Tonderai. All donations will be used for short-term housing, medical needs, and medical transportation for therapy. Thank you for helping us support this amazing young man. We will keep you updated!
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<div>More of our story:
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<div>We met Tonderai through our son, Alec. Alec brought Tonderai home for Thanksgiving during their freshman year of college and we would see him when we would visit KU. When covid hit and the students were moving out of the dorms, my husband asked if Tonderai needed a place to stay. So he moved in with us in Wichita in March 2020 with a ticket to return home in May. Well, that didn’t happen, as more flights were continuing to be canceled. Plus, there was a concern he wouldn’t be able to get back. So Tonderai stayed with us and he’s been a part of our family since. We’ve celebrated holidays, family weddings, and vacations together. We are in touch with his family in Botswana, exchanging Christmas gifts in the mail and celebrating their weddings and babies in their families.
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<div>Alec and Tonderai had been roommates since their sophomore year. This February Alec left on a Thursday at 6 am to study abroad in Seoul, through KU. Two days later on Saturday at 6 am Tonderai called me from the ICU. A dr got on the phone and explained the seriousness of the situation. My husband and I drove to see him and stayed with him. After his 6-hour surgery, the surgeon explained how it went and we were able to have Tonderai's sister and parents on the phone so they could hear everything. The staff at St. Luke’s is so kind and they have included Tonderai’s family in his progress. Our goal is to help him with therapy and graduation. Thank you for showing your support and hope to Tonderai.
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<div>Becky and Andy Stephens
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Helping Tonderai

<div>Hello family, friends, and followers!!


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<div>Many of you know that in early 2019, Ashley was robbed of her vision due to an Autoimmune Disease called Sarcoidosis. Roughly a year later and with the approval of her healthcare team at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, she was able to travel to Coconut Creek, Florida and participate in the SCOTS 2 - Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study II, with Dr. Jeffrey Weiss! This first treatment ultimately took her from complete darkness, to a point where she is able to see outlines in high contrast situations as well as shadows. Ashley is also able to differentiate between lights on/off, and day/night time. That being said, the treatment was <strong>DEFINITELY</strong> a success! However, Dr. Weiss and Ashley were both aware that this may require more than one treatment to restore some of the vision she has lost due to the large amount of scar tissue that her eyes had developed due to the disease.


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<div><strong>Fortunately enough</strong>, Ashley was informed this week that she has been accepted into another trial that has a treatment date of August 9, 2022!! This would mean that Ashley would fly down to Florida on Sunday, August 7th. The next day she would report to the hospital for an office visit for a pre-op appointment and exam. Following that, on Tuesday August 9th, Ashley would receive her stem cell treatment and be able to return home that same week.


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<div>In order to get this life changing surgery, Ashley will have to pay $23,000 as an upfront payment for the surgery, plus travel expenses on top of that! This clinical trial is a patient sponsored clinical study conducted by a group of research physicians, there is no grant support or pharmaceutical support. Therefore patients must pay for the study which includes treatment at a fully licensed surgical center, operating room, under anesthesia from board certified anesthesiologist, bone marrow aspirations with a board certified orthopedic surgeon, FDA cleared medical device for separation of stem cells, technicians, etc, as well as the out of pocket travel expenses. Unfortunately, none of these expenses would be covered under insurance.  


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<div>This is where we need your help. If you are able, please consider donating to her cause. $30,000 is our dream goal, with a VERY quick turnaround of just three weeks until payment is due!! With that, Ashley &amp; Mike should be able to cover the treatment, travel, lodging, etc without taking out any additional loans. Obviously, this is a substantial amount of money, And many, if not all of you, have already been so generous and have helped in so many ways! And we are so very grateful! But you guys...all in all, this would be a small price to pay for such a priceless gift, not just to Ashley but to Mike &amp; their 3 beautiful boys as well! 


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<div>Since her first treatment, Ashley has been able to dig deep within herself and her abilities to spread awareness about the blind and visually impaired communities. We could not be more proud of her for the work she has done and the voice she’s found within herself. Ashley has quite literally made lemonade out of lemons and has learned that she too, can do hard things! But, Ashley dreams of being able to see her boys again one day, and look Mike in the eyes when he tells her he loves her. We believe in our hearts that where there is a will, there is a way. So we have to try our hardest to make this happen for her!


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<div>We appreciate all the love and support everyone has shown Ashley, Mike, and their boys since they started on this journey! It has been a continuous outpouring and we can feel every ounce of it! Whether you are able to donate financially or not, we would love all the good vibes and prayers we can get!!


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<div>Venmo- @Blind_momofboys

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<div>PayPal- @ashleymizellphotos 

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<div>CashApp- $blindmomofboys
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</div><img class="m-text-editor-image" alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66644727_1657823859162192_r." width="100%" />
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<div>For more information on Sarcoidosis-


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<div><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sarcoidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350358" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sarcoidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350358" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sarcoidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350358</a></a>


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<div>Links to personal success stories from the same Doctor that will be conducting the trial on Ashley-


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<div><a href="https://www.wmar2news.com/news/in-focus/baltimore-woman-once-blind-regains-vision-after-retinal-stem-cell-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.wmar2news.com/news/in-focus/baltimore-woman-once-blind-regains-vision-after-retinal-stem-cell-surgery" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.wmar2news.com/news/in-focus/baltimore-woman-once-blind-regains-vision-after-retinal-stem-cell-surgery</a></a>


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<div><a href="https://people.com/human-interest/formerly-blind-nashville-man-helps-legislators-usher-in-a-new-frontier-in-medicine-my-vision-is-restored" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://people.com/human-interest/formerly-blind-nashville-man-helps-legislators-usher-in-a-new-frontier-in-medicine-my-vision-is-restored/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://people.com/human-interest/formerly-blind-nashville-man-helps-legislators-usher-in-a-new-frontier-in-medicine-my-vision-is-restored/</a></a>


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<div>Here are a few links to some of the projects Ashley been able to do to spread awareness about the blind and visually impaired communities-


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<div><a href="https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-woman-discovers-life-changing-device-on-dr-phil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-woman-discovers-life-changing-device-on-dr-phil/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-woman-discovers-life-changing-device-on-dr-phil/</a></a>


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<div><a href="https://www.thepitchkc.com/technology-helps-kansas-city-mother-overcome-blindness-obstacles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.thepitchkc.com/technology-helps-kansas-city-mother-overcome-blindness-obstacles/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.thepitchkc.com/technology-helps-kansas-city-mother-overcome-blindness-obstacles/</a></a>


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<div><a href="https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-mom-back-to-parenting-on-dr-oz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-mom-back-to-parenting-on-dr-oz/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.orcam.com/en/media/blind-mom-back-to-parenting-on-dr-oz/</a></a>


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<div><a href="https://www.kmbc.com/amp/article/technology-helps-kc-mom-who-lost-vision-regain-independence/36376646" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.kmbc.com/amp/article/technology-helps-kc-mom-who-lost-vision-regain-independence/36376646" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.kmbc.com/amp/article/technology-helps-kc-mom-who-lost-vision-regain-independence/36376646</a></a>


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<div><a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/device-helps-kc-woman-see-again-after-losing-vision/amp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/device-helps-kc-woman-see-again-after-losing-vision/amp/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://fox4kc.com/news/device-helps-kc-woman-see-again-after-losing-vision/amp/</a></a>


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Ashley Mizell’s Clinical Trial

<p class="p3" style="line-height:normal;">Angela Opatz, age 44 passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 2nd at her home in The Colony, TX. Angela was a single mother devoted to her four children -  Bella 14, Lukaine 7, Niyah 5 and Embriyah 4. Please donate to support Angela’s family to help cover funeral &amp; memorial expenses and set up a trust for Angela’s children. 
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<p class="p3" style="line-height:normal;"><br />I am a friend of Stacy Opatz Ensweiler, Angela's only sister. Stacy and her husband Mike are currently caring for the three youngest childen along with three of their own.
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<p class="p3" style="line-height:normal;"><br />Thank you for your consideration, support and condolences during this unbelievable time. 

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Angela Opatz Memorial & Trust for Kids

Early 2014, Noah Wilson was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare cancer. He was 6 years old at the time of diagnosis. Noah battled and fought through over a year of treatment and eventually had been told that the cancer had gone into remission. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with Leukemia and on June 30th, Heaven gained a Hero as he joined his fellow angels. I could write pages and pages about Noah and his famiy and how amazing they are. From their love to their courage and strength and willingness to help others... they truly embody what a great person should be . Even with Noah fighting, he still took time to work on his own bandage project and help others in need. I ask you to take just a moment and help give and be a part of this campaign. The money can be used for funeral costs as well as money for the family to have and use while they recover from this tough time and allow Scott, Noah's father, to have additional time off to be with his children and Deb. Thank you so much. #teamnoah

Noah Wilson Funeral/Family Fund

Emily is gearing up for an even longer uphill battle against cancer. She has been told that she should take a vacation now while she can because when treatment begins, it's 100 days of pain and misery, 28 of which she'll be quarantined AWAY FROM HER BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHILDREN. <br /><br />PLEASE help us make their Disney Cruise possible by donating here and let them squeeze in some good times and family memories before the really bad times kick in. <br /><br />We are an amazing community of generous and loving people. You all have already done so much, and I keep hearing folks ask "WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?" <br /><br />This. We can do this.

Jennifer Mullinax

Jennifer Mullinax

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