Elmer's Brother (Ray) has an important message

I don't ask many favors here at GeeeZ, but my very good friend and blog partner Ray (Elmer's Brother is how you know him) has a sister in trouble and I'd like you all to help them, as part of our wonderful blog family....I think you'll want to when you read the story below!  Here is Ray's message:

My sister Erin Goodwin was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2010. She is the mother of two teenage children, Zach and Rebecca and wife to Andrew. To save her life, a double mastectomy was performed a month later in March of 2010 and doctors also removed some of her lymph nodes. As a result, Erin underwent a year of chemotherapy and 30 radiation treatments. Two years ago her type of breast cancer was a death sentence. There was little they could do but, fortunately, when she was diagnosed, the doctors told her that it's now one of the most survivable types. Unfortunately, Erin developed secondary lymphedema, a debilitating condition of fluid      retention caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The condition occurs in 25-30% of surgery breast cancer patients with lymph modal removal and radiation therapy. To alleviate this problem, Erin’s doctor recommended a combination of physical therapy and the use of a Flexi Touch, a mechanical device manufactured by Tactile Systems (http://www.tactilesystems.com/flexitouch/index.html.) Unfortunately Erin’s insurance carrier has decided not to pay for the expense of the Flexi Touch machine based on their conclusion that the device is still “experimental”. This ruling differs from previous decisions applied to similar medical cases where the machine was requested and paid for by the same insurance carrier. My wife's cousin was diagnosed within a month of Erin. Her husband and my brother in law both work for the same company and have the exact same insurance. Contrary to what's being done for Erin, my wife's cousin was able to get the machine.

No one in our family is blaming anyone, we’ve just sought ways to get Erin her machine and it costs $12,000. We had a fundraiser for her on May 7^th in which we raised $3600 and we are holding a rummage sale on June 4^th.

Here is a link to our church's Paypal account so that anyone can give online. Make SURE to include FOR ERIN GOODWIN or TEAM ERIN with your donation....

(the church where you send the donation to can provide a tax letter if you wish.)

Here is the Facebook page for TEAM ERIN so you can see pictures of the weekend's fund raising event and keep up with what's happening! (note: must have Facebook page to see) http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/group.php?gid=340178615683

Z: Here's the story behind the scenes which I was enamored with and wanted you all to know;  Her dear, beloved brother Ray nicknamed her ELMER'S BROTHER because she keeps that family together like glue (Elmer's Glue).  This machine will help Erin keep alive.... Let's help keep her together with some of our glue!$$$
Thanks, everybody.........please try to help with any amount you can, even $10 helps! Please help Erin get the machine that could even save her very life!  THANK YOU from the bottom of this blogger's heart......

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in the truth"  1 John 3:18

Z