Oh Happy Day!

Addi's first fundraising event raised a whopping

$2,521!!!


Words can't describe the gratitude I feel. I am especially grateful for Katie Wells over @ Katie Wells photography for getting the ball rolling on all this fund raising business. I am soooo very, very grateful for all the donations, large and small, towards FOP research. As a mother of a child that has this horrible disease, I can attest to the fact that I feel pretty powerless in all this except when I blog and try to promote IFOPA donations. Being able to do something about all this gives me hope. A gift not easily given to a pessimist who would rather be pleasantly surprised than have her heart let down. I was indeed, pleasantly surprised my friends.

Now to pleasantly surprise all of you!

Are you ready for this?

I bet you can hardly wait...

The winner list is here!

Here it goes!

And the winners are according to Random.org…

Kirstykoo $30 Etsy Gift Certificate: Alaya Kish

Case of Ellsworth Potatoes: Amanda Korth, Nikki Lewis, & Jodi Bozung

Lia Sophia Jewelry: Gina Smith

Candy Bar Bouquet: Gerberta Black

Custom Doll from Chrissy Lee Creations: Cierra Sundberg

Manwaring Cheese: Sheila Nelson

Define Your Space Vinyl Sign: Susie Clayton

Bow Board: Cindy Merrill

Premier Designs Jewelry: Leslie Wright

Pampered Chef Items: Trina Cupp

Hair Cut from Kyrie Anderson: John Ellsworth

Free Classes from Yoga Bliss and Zumba by Jodi: Julie Gneighting, Nellie Bray, & Shyenne Ellsworth

Caramel Tree Prize Pack: Trevor Shelton, Marva Kumer, Dave Ellsworth

Twilight Prize Pack: Gina Ortega

Bunnie Bows by Nellie Bray: Chrissy Lee

Ashley Curry Zumba Classes: Lori Ellsworth

Zumba Gift Basket : Kyrie Anderson

iTunes Gift Cards: Rachel Rubow, Kirsti Clark, Stephenie Heiden

Applebee’s Gift Cards: Meka Hilton, Alexis Bosco, & Ashley Curry

I am so grateful for the difference that we are making together. I am working on getting addresses and people hooked up with one another so it might be a little bit longer until you get your prize... Thank you for your patience!  

The Gift of Hope

Unofficial drum roll please...

Our unofficial total for Addi's research fundraiser is over $2000. 

Between the generous work over at Katie Wells Photography and our friends and family that have donated directly to IFOPA I think that we have raised at LEAST that much. 

This melts my heart. There are so many good people in the world.

When I hear the grand total from IFOPA in the next few days I will let you know and we will start dishing out the gifts from Addi's Drawing From the Heart!

People have been asking me how our trip went. They have been asking me how we are feeling about things. The answers:

We feel blessed. We feel hopeful. We feel loved. 

A few dollars here or there may not have seemed much to you, but it means the world to me. Just imagine that your donation is paying for a researcher to get one more hour in the lab and that extra hour is when they see something that leads to a break through... 

Thank you so much for your gift of hope! 

{Our Family in Camden across the river from Philadelphia}

Guess what???

You are a winner. You are a worthwhile and wonderful person. You have my gratitude for coming to Addi's blog and if donated to Addi's Drawing from the Heart or even passed the link along to your friends, you are an angel. 

I am so touched at all of the wonderful vendors and drawing donors that opened their minds, hearts, and wallets to the FOP community and are helping them in every single penny donated. 

Our sweet little drawing has ended. I am reminded by it how compassionate and kind people can be. We will be announcing our drawing winners as soon as we get the donor list back from IFOPA. 

Thank you so much for everything and come back soon. You are are a winner all around but you might have won even more than you think. 

More Zumba Love from Ashley Curry

I have been so touched by everyone that has been so willing to help with Addi's FOP research. Ashley Curry came across Addi's story and was touched too. She has donated a month of Zumba classes for one lucky winner and for another winner a Zumba gift basket with free classes, Zumba bracelets and a Zumba shirt! Thank you so much Ashley!! Donate to Addi's Drawing from The Heart to snag these great prizes and get Addi a little closer to her cure! 

Applebee's... Yes please.

Three $10 Applebee's gift cards are up for grabs if you donate to Addi's Drawing From the Heart!

her tunes, my tunes, itunes, your tunes...

Addi's tunes consist of of Yo Gabba Gabba dance mixes.



My tunes lately have been more on the inspirational side. Thank you Lady A.

This iTunes card could be your tunes if you donate to Addi's Drawing From the Heart!

Where the research money goes...

This is a fluorescent microscope {Or so google tells me} and we saw one of these babies in the FOP lab. Our tour guide Ruth was understandably excited about this new tool as they are hard to come by because their price tag is over $150,000 dollars. Yes there were four zeros after that one-five. This machine is worth more than my house in today's market.

Ruth showed us how she processes the blood to gather cells for growing new cells for the research. She showed us where they stain the cells and examine them with the fluorescent microscope. We saw where they examine the mice and met a few of the other researchers. We heard about an awesome program called the "Tooth Fairy" program where we will send in Addi's baby teeth when they start falling out and they will be able to collect stem cells from the pulp in the baby teeth.

We were able to see and meet so many wonderful people in the FOP lab. People here are really excited about how close they are to answering so many questions. One thing that Dr. K said while they are there is that they finally have the FOP mouse they need and the other tools they need to start testing compounds for the treatment of FOP. Read more about our visit with Dr. Kaplan here.

When we were there they were all so excited with how hopeful things are. We got to meet Dr. Eileen Shore and she was delightful. She is a hard worker that is making a difference and I am so grateful for her efforts. As I met her and members of her team I kept asking them all the same thing to see what answers I would get. I told them,  "FOP families want this cure to get here SOON. What do you need to help speed up this process?" The answer they gave me is "people." They need people behind tools and spending time at leaving no stone unturned so that Addi gets a safe and effective treatment.

Addi's drawing from the heart is going toward research funds and more specifically research people because that is what they need. I am sooooo happy to announce that Katie's photo sessions that were held in conjunction with Addi's fundraiser rounded up $1,500.  We are looking forward to hearing the grand total from IFOPA at the beginning of next week and announcing the winners of our drawing. If you haven't had a chance to donate yet there is still time!! Donating is easy. Just click here and fill out the form, pay with credit card or paypal and then you are done.

I am so grateful for the kind hearts that are trying to help my baby girl. We are so close to having the answers and finding a way to protect Addi's future. Something that I loved about Addi's appointment is that Dr. Kaplan kept getting on the floor of the examination room and playing with Addilynn. He really has a love for children and enjoys entertaining them. After another one of these "play sessions" Addi was sitting in his lap when he looked up at his intern and said, "We have got to keep Addi this way." Later, Ruth said that it was so good that we came to the lab because it gives the researchers someone to think about as they are sifting through data.

The researchers working on the project have the tools and the motivation then need, but they need more people. Many hands make light work. Two heads are better than one. A one dollar donation from 50 people is $50 dollars that gets someone else in the lab. Whether your donation is big or small it makes a difference. Please donate to Addi's Drawing from the Heart. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Bunnie Bows by Nellie Bray

I am still in awe at how kind people are. I know Nellie's Mom pretty well but I haven't had a chance to get to know Nellie yet.

This afternoon I took a nap. Totally needed it. When I got up, Daren had said that Cierra had brought over these adorable bows from Nellie for Addi's drawing. I am so touched that acquaintances and even strangers are doing what they can to help my little girl. People I have never met are donating to Addi's cause and every penny is going to be put to good use. I hope this drawing serves as evidence to those that need to be reminded there is still so much good and kindness in our world.

These sweet little bows from Bunnie Bows could be yours to give to your favorite little "bunnie" if you donate to Addi's Drawing from the Heart!

Twilight Fan Prize Pack!

This year I made a wonderful new friend with a mom of one of my students. Nikki has actually helped me a ton with processing everything that is going on with Addi because her own daughter had a fight with a rare disease as well. Anyway, this sweet lady is known for having EPIC Twilight parties. I missed this last one for the upcoming Breaking Dawn Part 1 but I am definitely planning on coming to the next one. Nikki has donated a Mother/ Daughter set of hand crafted Bella Bracelets with charms for both Jacob & Edward, aroma therapy, and a candle warmer. Since I have my connections with Scholastic, I am also throwing in a new copy of Twilight with a movie poster. It can be yours if you donate to Addi's Drawing from the heart!

Zumba Class with Jodi Bozung!

Jodi's Zumba class is probably the best work out I have ever had in my life and by far the most fun! You move muscles you never even knew you had and you have a blast doing it. Three lucky Addi's Drawing from the Heart winners will get a free class with Jodi in Rigby!

Caramel Tree Family Prize Pack!

Confession: The Apple Pie caramel apple pictured above is my FAVORITE. This place is to die for and it keeps you coming back for more! Three lucky winners from Addi's Drawing from the Heart will win a family prize pack of five caramel apples from the Caramel Tree in Rigby. Valued at over $35.

A session at Yoga Bliss!

I sooo want this prize for myself! I have been wanting to try it out ever since I saw her on page on  facebook. Three lucky Addi's Drawing from the Heart winners are each going to get a free class to Yoga Bliss in Rigby. I might just have to buy a few classes myself! See you there!

Addi is so loved.

So our little "raffle" has turned into a BIG drawing! We heard today from IFOPA that legally we have to call it a drawing or else we need a license for gambling so donors are now officially donating to Addi's Drawing from the Heart. IFOPA has also given Addi her own tag line for donations when you donate! All of Addi's proceeds will go toward the lab at U Penn to help find a cure.

We are actually getting the opportunity to travel to that lab next week. We will be seeing Dr. Kaplan and learn more about Addi's diagnosis a week from Friday, and hopefully get to tour Dr. Shore's research lab too. As much as I wish Addi didn't have to deal with this, I am so grateful we have a great team of doctors and scientists on this. 75% of their funding comes from the families and friends of FOP patients like Addi. We are all important in keeping them going until we get a cure.

Our donors are doing a great job in furthering this cause and  are being so generous with this drawing! We now have over $500 in prizes and there are still more coming in. I have been so in awe this week of how much love has been shown toward our family and especially Addi. People's hearts are really showing their goodness to our family this week and we are so grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people in this amazing community.

Katie has raised over $600 in Christmas Mini-sessions for IFOPA! She still has openings on the 19th if you are interested. Her pictures are priceless and donating with your heart will do more good than you know.

After some people expressed interest in donating later this month and our family's trip to Philadelphia next week, we have decided to keep our drawing open an extra week until November 26th. Winners will hopefully be announced Monday, November 28th, pending receiving our donor list from IFOPA.

Thank you so much for your love and support! Our hearts are full to the brim tonight!

Haircut & Style From Kyrie

Kyrie is offering to donate a haircut and style to Addi's Drawing From the Heart! Kyrie works out of the JCPenney Salon in Idaho Falls and does an awesome job! This is a $27 value. Thanks Kyrie!!

$35 in Pampered Chef Items!

Need some help in your kitchen for the holidays???

Amanda from Pampered Chef is donating these awesome items:

Classic Batter Bowl

Skinny Scraper

Pampered Chef Festive Holiday Cookbook

A package valued at $35! 

It can be yours if you donate to Addi's Drawing From the Heart!

1 Item from Premier Designs Jewelry - Up to $100 value!

Cierra from Premier Designs Jewelry has donated any one item from their catalog up to $100! There is some seriously gorgeous stuff in here and you could win if you donate to Addi's Drawing From the Heart!

Bow Board from Cierra & Shyenne

Cierra and Shyenne are great friends of mine and Cierra's daughter Brynlee is Addi's BFF! They make these adorable bow boards to show off and keep your little girls bows organized. It can be yours if you participate in Addi's Drawing From the Heart! Valued at $35!

Define Your Space Vinyl

Define Your Space Custom Vinyl has donated a beautiful custom vinyl sign for Addi's Drawing from the Heart! Check out this awesome business for some super cute gift ideas!

$10 gift certificate for Manwaring Artisan Cheese

Manwaring Cheese has donated a $10 gift certificate to Addi's Drawing from the heart! You could be making some pretty delish dishes with this artisan cheese or just eating it straight if you win! {If you can't wait though head over there today... Maybe I will see you there!}

Custom Handmade Doll from Chrisy Lee Creations

A picture slideshow by Smilebox

Chrisy Lee is donating a beautiful custom, handmade Dolly or Panda to Addi's Drawing from the Heart! This prize package also includes 3 outfits and a blanket-- a $68 value! Your little girl will LOVE this. Thank you Chrisy Lee!