This is an exciting day! We are thrilled to have started our fundraising project for James. He is a fantastic guy that deserves the best in life. So many people care about him and appreciate who he is. Originally I was going to send his story to Oprah, but I just couldn't do it. I finally realized that our community needed to be Oprah. So many people have expressed a desire to help, I hope we can finish this project quickly and get James into the recovery room.
Bank of America is ready to accept donations. You have to go into one of their branches to donate. If you can't make it in, let me know and I can help you out. Cheers to the beginning of a wonderful journey for all of us.
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The Official campaign site for James O'Neal surgery fundraising.
How to Contribute
James O'Neal
James in the News
Our Goal
James was born with Neurofibromatosis. As a child he had surgery pretty much every year to keep up with the growths on his face. His dad would take the family on a summer vacation after his surgeries so he could recover and have fun. When he turned 18 he didn't have any more insurance to cover more surgeries. The tumors have stopped growing now and he would love to have the last procedures done. Several years ago he was told that his insurance company wouldn't cover it because he was born with the condition, so we are working toward a goal of $50,000 to cover the cost of treatment and recovery. We really won't know how much money is needed until he is thoroughly evaluated, but James is very excited that we have taken this project on, but I know he's a little leery of it actually happening. I am committed to doing everything I can to get him into the recovery room.
20 comments:
What a great project to help out this man who so many people obviously care about. I love the idea of your community being his "Oprah" too.
We're definitely off to the races!
The journey begins. We love James he is an amazing man and we're thrilled to see him moving forward to a much needed and deserved surgery.
It is a wonderful and grateful thing that you are doing. I am James' sister and know the heart ache and pain that he endured when he was a child. And as an adult the stares and comments that he has tolerated. So I want to say Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the family's heart. I love you Jimbo! Lynn
Is there an address that money orders can be sent to? I don't think we have a Bank of America in our town.
I am James's nephew. This is such a great thing that you are doing and it is so touching to see so many people care for him. Times I spent with him when I was a child, I experianced everything he had to go through when we were out and about. Thank you from myself and the rest of the family. This is truely a blessing to him.
Frank
What you are doing for James will not only benefit James but the entire community. Many times it takes a gesture like this to inspire others to take action rather than sit on the sidelines. I know money is typically the reason most people are not able to get the help they deserve. But I think your effort can secure much more than money. I think that if you approached a local group of Plastic Surgeons, you would be surprised at their willingness to help. This willingness to help will most likely also be appealing to the nurses and staff needed for the operation. Being a doctor is not about making money, it is about making a difference. I will be supporting you monetarily but I think the donation of professional services will allow you to accomplish your goal much quicker and the account you have set up for his care will have enough extra funds to help James in other ways where you must have the financial means to do so.
I wish you much success in this endeavor and I see no reason you won't succeed.
Daryl
Hi Katie,
I think its great what your doing, I heard James's story on the news. You should start a paypal account for him, so anyone with a credit card can donate. Ebay uses it and its safe, anyone can do it. Im going to go to a Bank of America this week to donate, but if you start a paypal account, let me know.
I just saw this story on CNN in an airport in Dallas. Great intentions but with national exposure you need to find a way to make it easier to donate or you are going to leave a huge amount of money on the table. I will try to make it into B of A this week.
I just saw this on CNN.com from my desk in California.
Good guy, great project but I agree with Ian at DFW...
You need to make it much easier for people to donate. My suggestion...
At the top of the Blog place the name of the trust account and the address of the Bank of America branch.
I am ready to donate, but of course donation needs to be made a little easier.
I am also in California and do live near a Bank of America, but I find it difficult to donate without more information.
I am not sure how PayPal might work for you with a charitable company, but you may want to do this RIGHT AWAY before you can lose out on LOTS of donations.
How can I donate from out of the area? No Bank of America in my town. I'd also like to link it to my blog if possible...
I just saw james on cnn.com and i wanted to donate to his cause . It took me about 30 minutes to find this websight its a local tv station in the town where james lives
http://www.komonews.com/news/19339104.html
It was really easy to contribute here and they also have a secure websight ..good luck James
dear james,
i just saw you on cnn and you are such a great guy. you seem to be humble and sweet. the kids saying all together we love james was so sweet. wow and to have an employer to kick in also wow!. i am praying for you and the doctors and nurses and hospital staff and for your recovery. May God Bless you all! have a wonderful and safe journey.
sincerely,
teresa sigler
albertville, alabama
Hi Katie:
I had to take a moment and let you know what a wonderful thing you are doing for James. I made a donation this evening...well done!
The world truly is a better place because of people like you.
C. Ray
I just saw the CNN clip on line today and am so impressed by both the courage and generosity shown. I will be so happy to donate to James and think of his courage as I face my own obstacles in life. Bravo James.
I wanted to hold off on posting this link until I spoke to Katie first but I am afraid that James is loosing out on donations -http://www.friendsofjamesoneal.com/
An angel - you definately are. I've read all the comments about where to donate, and how? For the guy in Austraila if you do Ebay (or not) you more than likely have a Pay Pal account. I just donated through there - it's so very easy. Just click on send money and in the payee section you will type:
FriendsOfJamesOneal@yahoo.com, add how much money you'd like to give, press send and thats it. You don't even need to leave your chair, office or even start up your car and with the price of gas now who wants to drive! For James - it seems you are well loved by many. I especially liked the statement about having a Doctor out there step forward and perform this miracoluous surgery. AMERICA STEP FORWARD - one of our own needs help in OUR country - this honorary American isn't out there asking for handouts, or staying home collecting welfare, he is a genuine working man and now WE should give to him as he has given to his community - AMERICA UNITE - God please send a Doctor with a gracious heart to James so he will live free of this deformity and remain a pillar of the community to show strength to others who look down on themselves and realize there is HOPE and a GOD. AMEN - DEBBIE in California
Thank you for letting me be a part of James life though we may never meet. I was just looking at myself in the mirror and trying to deal with some new wrinkles I saw under my eyes. I'm amazed at my shallowness. Thank God for people like James who really know how to live.
I first saw the story on the FOX news web page and followed the link to http://www.komonews.com/news/19339104.html
It was easy and secure to donate there.
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