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by Lyn Lomasi, Life Successfully Staff
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Photo: (c) Rissa Watkins
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Not the three words you want to hear when a friend of yours is in the hospital undergoing tests. This is the diagnosis Rissa Watkins was faced with on Dec 29, 2010.

Thinking about and praying for Rissa, her child and husband, and all who care for her, family and friends had been waiting about a week to hear the news on her test results. Obviously a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is not what they had all been hoping for.

Shortly after hearing the news, her online friends (many from the Yahoo! Contributor Network) began organizing to figure out how to help Rissa. Word spread quickly on social networks and other outlets.

Hospital bills for this type of medical condition can be quite expensive. Therefore, one idea has been to read and share her articles with others. Articles displayed at certain sites, like Associated Content from Yahoo!, can generate revenue for writers each time someone reads them.

But the generosity did not stop at reading her work. Friends and family, both online and off began immediately donating money to Rissa to help with her medical expenses and anything else she may need along the way.

Because of the nature of this type of cancer, Rissa cannot work during the treatment. That's why it is so crucial for people to help. In addition to whatever her normal expenses are, there will be plenty of hospital bills and other medical services and treatments to pay for. Insurance will not cover the entire cost of this.

Family and friends are not the only ones who can help Rissa.

You too can help!

Ways to help Rissa:

1) Donate via GiveForward

2) Donate via PayPal (see below)

3) Read her articles on AC/Y!CN

4) Share this link, her article links, and the GiveForward page.

5) Make a purchase from Twin Trinity Media. They are donating to Rissa $1 for every physical book sold and .25 cents for every digital download. They will make daily payments to her as sales come in. Plus, she's building royalties on sales of three of those books.

6) Purchase a Leukemia awareness shirt from teeBarefoot. The shop owner is donating all proceeds from Leukemia awareness designs to Rissa.

7) Place a bid on this beautiful blue sodalite rosary (ends Jan 17). Full proceeds will be donated to Rissa.

More on Rissa's story:

Watch Rissa's YouTube vlogs

Help AC Writer Rissa Watkins Kick Leukemia's Butt!

Help Me Help Rissa

Rissa is Featured Writer of the Month (Jan 2011) on AskSan.com

If you have written about Rissa, please share your link in the comment section and we'll add it here.
100% of PayPal donations will be forwarded directly to Rissa Watkins.
(minus any PayPal fees)
* Lyn Lomasi is a homeschool mom, expert parenting writer, former nanny, author, & Founder of Write W.A.V.E. Media, which includes sites like LifeSuccessfully.com._
 


Comments

Reena
12/30/2010 04:51

My heart broke when I heard about this yesterday. Sending her and the family positive and healing vibes. Perhaps small, but I hope my contribution to Rissa will help her during these hard times.

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Lyn Lomasi link
12/30/2010 07:29

Thanks so much for your support, Reena. My heart broke when I heard the news too. Rissa is such an amazing person and I know that everything anyone can do, big or small will be a tremendous help and very much appreciated. :)

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Theresa Wiza link
12/31/2010 05:16

I didn't know until I read this post today. Thanks for letting me know.

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Lyn Lomasi link
12/31/2010 07:49

You're welcome, Theresa. Sorry you had to find out this way.

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Magena Fawn
12/31/2010 12:26

Thanks for helping Rissa in this way. It is nice to know so many others are joining together to help. There certainly is power in numbers!

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Lyn Lomasi link
01/01/2011 21:15

You're very welcome, Magena! I thank you and everyone who is helping with prayers, donations, spreading the word, etc. Every little bit counts!

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Rissa link
01/03/2011 13:52

I have been in awe at the way the writing community has galvanized into action to help support me and my family.

It is amazing how much people are willing to give of their time, their money and even their very blood to someone they have never met in real life.

I am humbled to be so blessed with such wonderful people. Thank you so much!

Rissa

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Lyn Lomasi link
01/04/2011 09:15

Aww you're very welcome, Rissa! That's what friends are for! Online or off, friends are friends! :)

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Karen Gros
01/05/2011 12:00

Lynn,

This was a wonderful thing to do for Rissa and served as a great reminder to us all as to what she is facing. I'm going over to read some of her articles now and share a link. I also challenge everyone from AC to share a Rissa link in the coming days and weeks.

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Candice Collins link
01/05/2011 18:22

Thanks for letting us know Lyn. and Rissa, I will be praying for you! I can't donate anything right now, but my most heartfelt healing wishes and thoughts go out to you! "I ask for the blessed presence of Archangel Raphael to overlight this prayer/meditation. I invoke the presence of all of the Angels of the Healing Arts, and ask that any and every aspect of disharmony or dis-ease within Rissas personal bodies be bathed and washed clean within your healing light. I now direct my attention to Rissa and ask for light and love (in the presence of the Archangel Raphael) to infuse Rissa that all may be bathed within your blessed healing love-light of God. I now ask for as many healing angels as needed in order to help heal all levels of energies surrounding Rissa, and for them to surround with their healing light Rissa's mind, body and spirit. I ask that you, Archangel Raphael, come in answer to my prayer and invocation. May the blessed angels pour forth all the divine and glorious healing force that is required into each and everyone in need of you this moment." ...
Thank you to all those who have given of themselves with much loving gratitude I give thanks to you, Raphael I give thanks to all the Angels of the Healing Arts who are answering my heartfelt prayers this very moment. I ask that you stay as long as you are needed and that you continue to overlight any and all who are suffering."

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jan corn link
01/06/2011 23:32

I've donated and will do whatever I can to help spread the word. If each of us forwarded this to friends and asked them to forward it....maybe we could make a huge difference!

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Lyn Lomasi link
01/11/2011 21:01

Thanks for your support of Rissa, everyone! She really needs us all right now and I'm glad to see how many people are stepping up to help her in some way, be it emotionally, physically, or financially. :)

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Donald Pennington link
02/09/2011 08:21

I'm sharing this where I can.

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Jamie Wilson
02/10/2011 13:14

Oh, Rissa. I had no idea til I saw E's Facebook avatar. I am so sorry - you are one of the nicest people I know online. I will look for ways to help and keep coming back here weekly. I don't think you live near Augusta, GA, but if you do I'd be honored to do the casserole thing upon (frequent) occasion.

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Jamie Wilson
02/10/2011 13:22

(correction: Barefoot's avatar. Sorry, just totally sideswiped here.)

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