How Can I Help?

This is a very difficult section for us to write, update, etc. Please understand that it is here for a reason. A lot of people want to mean it when they say "If you need anything, just call" but they don't, not because they aren't good people at all but rather because something that open ended is just about impossible to truly mean. We all have busy lives that leave us little or no extra time (or at least thats what we used to think before we were forced to put everything on hold at any given time and you really can do that). What people probably mean to say is "I'd be happy to help if, at the moment you call or need help it fits into my schedule and it is something that is easy for me to do."

What a lot of people don't understand, however, is how much effort it takes to "call" and ask for something. By the time we ever get to that point we are already emotionally and physically strained and even if we could remember who said they'd do what, its very difficult to call. Then, to get reject after reject when we do call is extremely demoralizing. As mommy put it: "I'm tired of asking for help and getting no for an answer again and again..." and "I just don't think people get it - I can't always ask and I can use a break just about any time that works for someone else."

It never occurred to us how much help we would be needing from other people. A VERY BIG THANK YOU goes out to all of those who have helped and all that will. You are all angels to us. It is difficult for us to ask but EVERYONE has told us to let our needs AND wants known no matter how big or small so that is what we are doing.

Before you read on, please go to www.curesearch.org and look around. This has been a site that has been a wealth of knowledge, support and information of all kinds. They have a special section on helping people in a situation like ours. Click Here for the direct link to that section.

Prayer: Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7 NLT)

Spread the Word: We believe in power in numbers and the more people that know about Rebekah the better. Please tell everyone you know about this site. There is a banner above or on the front page that you can save and include on your website, linking to www.helprebekah.com. We have also created a flyer in adobe that you can save on your own computer and print out so that you can hand out to your own local friends and businesses. Click HERE to open a new page with the flyer. Warning - it is high quality and could take a few minutes to open on dial up. It looks great printed on high quality and photo paper if you have it! Every prayer and every thought count so please let as many people as you can know about Rebekah and this site. This continues to be true as we get further and further away from treatment as, even though we don't talk about them much, the side effects are just getting worse and worse.

Office Depot in Hillsboro, Oregon (Tanasbourne) has donated 1000 "business cards" of this poster that we have been able to hand out. THANKS!

From Here On: We have started getting back to normal in our lives (normal now means 8-12 appointments a week...) and needing less than you have all provided over the last year. That is SO awesome!!!!! We cannot tell you how blessed we have been by all of your gifts, help and support. It literally has allowed us to come out of the intial treatment still owning our home and, at least daddy still having his job and it is doing well.

What this means is that we are trying real hard to pick up our day-to-day activities on our own.

Childcare or helping with the girls: Taking care of two toddlers is always a handful in itself and anytime you want to come over and play/help would be great!

Financially: There is no doubt that finances are a HUGE part of the burden here. Our friends told us to start worrying about finances from day one. We tried to not worry about them until savings were depleted. We are worrying about them now. Most of your insurance plans make you pay 20%. If you are lucky there is an annual max. Imagine paying 20% of $1,000-$2,000/day or more. Even though there are "Stop Loss" amounts, it adds up pretty quickly. Our insurance changed in October causing an entire new set of deductibles, out of pockets, stop losses, etc. for the end of 2005 only to start yet again each year. We now pay for 100% of our insurance privately - but that is still better than not having that insurance!

Please don't get us wrong, unlike where we were in the middle of treatment, we are being over joyed with the fact that we are keeping up with all of our bills and doing well - GOD IS SO GOOD! However, we know that we are just that next test away from potential disaster.

Winter 2007: As of December 2007, Rebekah's trust is down to almost nothing. The joy is that all of her bills are paid! No matter how much we should know better, we do still worry about future medical and other bills for Rebekah (including 2008 deductibles which start again in January) and for upcoming surgeries to repair the damage and side effects of her treatment, let alone any future cancer treatments if they become necessary. Anytime you would like to donate to her trust to help build up that reserve it would be GREATLY appreciated - see below.

Even in the best of all circumstances, Rebekah's ongoing medical needs are going to be great. She is going to need extensive testing every 3 months and frequent reconstruction surgeries as her body continues to grow and her left side of her face, affected by radiation, does not keep up. We are fearful of what these expenses could turn into and a Special Needs Irrevocable Trust has been set up to take financial donations and provide assistance to Rebekah in an appropriate manner. The Trust is run and managed by a third party who makes all decisions (within specific terms required in the Trust Document) on the use of the Trust funds so as to best help Rebekah and, at the same time, assist in helping her meet the requirements to receive other forms of assistance. Your funds can only go to help Rebekah and, in the event of her death, any remaining funds will go towards an appropriate cancer related charity.

Spring 2008: Rebekah had to have surgery to repair damage to her left eye as the radiation damage caused blindness. May 2008 it has become clear that she needs an "assisted communications device" to help her communicate with her peers and some adults. After months of trial and testing the unit that is best suited for her is the "Tango" (which can be seen at www.blink-twice.com) The hard part is that it is $7,000+ Funding sources are limited and insurance is not likely to cover it although we are trying. Do you know any businesses that want to grant some money???

Contributions can be made by clicking on the PayPal button above, on the front page or HERE. PayPal will allow you to make a contribution using your paypal account OR your credit card if you do not have nor want to have a PayPal account. No signup is necessary - just click and donate!

Contributions can also be made by going into any US Bank and asking to make a deposit to the “Rebekah C. Adams Irrev Trust.” Please be aware that some have reported problems with their local bank finding the account. Please make sure you copy down the name just as shown above.

You may also mail a check made payable to the trust to Scott and Frances or directly to the Trustee: Scott and Frances, Post Office Box 111, Banks, Oregon 97106 or Trustee Molly Mickley, 3305 SE Grant Street, Portland, Oregon 97214.

SOLD OUT FOR NOW - THANK YOU! Finally you can order a "Reach The Day" support bracelet from the "Home" page or get one locally from Scott and Frances. Not only will these bracelets make a little bit of money for Rebekah but they will help keep her on your mind. "Reach The Day" bracelets also support curesearch.org and for us have a double meaning. Nationally they mean that we are looking forward to reaching the day that no child has to suffer through cancer. To us personally they mean reaching the day Rebekah is cancer free.

Anything Else You Would Be Willing To Do - Any Time You Would Like To Do It - Just Let Us Know. Email us or give us a call at 503-324-0111.