Being those hands

(This is Kristin Baldwin posting. Since Kristen and I share the same first name it gets a little confusing so up front I thought I'd clarify :)

I started this post over a month ago and it finally feels like the right time to post it and ask for your helping hands again. A year ago, almost to the day, the Baumgartens received the news that Josh's MRI showed a brain tumor. That day began a new season of life for Josh, for Kristen, for Kimball, for McKay, and for Benson; the season of  radiation, chemo, prayers, and cherishing moments. Sweet baby Eliza only knows this season of life. Just the other day Kristen was telling me how Eliza is right at home at the Huntsmen Center and loves her visits from the nurses and Doctors who have watched her grow over the last 10 months. I'd better stop writing about those kids because I love them like family and this last year those sweet boys had too much reality mixed in with their precious boyhood.

This blog was set up by friends because of Josh's diagnosis of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. But I am posting today about Josh's beautiful wife Kristen.

Kristen has MS. Can you believe it? Read that again. Kristen was recently diagnosed with M.S., Mulitple Sclerosis [a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.] (Click HERE to link to Kristen's post about her diagnosis)

So M.S. Really?!? REALLY!?! The emphasis on REALLY!?! is not so much meant to be negative as much as I'm being real. If you know Josh and Kristen or have only just learned about them on this blog then you know they are the best of people, the best that I know of. For them both to be diagnosed with life debilitating diseases with no known cure is in my book unbelievable. Do I really need to explain why even more than before they could use your helping hands?


Here is what I am asking. Think about how you could help. Think about who you know who are in a position to help. Are you in a position now or will you be in the next few months to put together and execute some kind of fundraiser? A bake sale, a garage sale, a lemonade stand? It could be anything and anytime. Let your kids brain storm and do it. They will get so much more out of it than whatever time and effort put in. Dollars and cents add up. Just imagine how the dollars and cents in bills would add up with one parent fighting for life with cancer treatment and one parent taking on a lifetime of MS treatment. Any idea you have and any amount donated WILL help. Go for it!


Isn't it amazing that in the last ten months this blog has had nearly 16,000 visitors? Of course many of those are the same loving friends and family eager to check up on Josh and his beautiful family on a regular basis. Isn't it also amazing that hundreds of people, from strangers to the Baumgarten family to their closest family and friends, came together in so many fundraising efforts during a recession and challenging financial time in the Uintah Basin to help with Josh's treatment costs? If you have followed this blog I know you've been touched as I have time and time again as Kristen and Josh have expressed their faith in Jesus Christ and their gratitude and awe for the love and support shown them.

Now let's be honest. If a member of your family began to experience serious health problems and was diagnosed with cancer would you be prepared financially? What if that person provided the primary income for a growing family? I can only speak for myself and I KNOW that my husband and I would be sunk. If we both needed lifelong medical treatment there is no word to describe how much more than SUNK we would be.

Here is how I feel. Josh deserves the best medical treatment available to him and more. He is getting it, for a pretty penny yes but thankfully he is getting what is available. Kristen deserves the best medical treatment available to her and more. Thankfully she is getting the best medical care currently available for MS. I have not seen what their monthly costs are for Doctor visits, treatment, prescriptions, etc and I never plan to but I would bet my very life that if we only knew our jaw would drop and I for one would probably need some air. On top of that I know that it is Kristen's hope  that she'll be able to explore all natural treatment options available to her and Josh in addition to their medical care. One she mentioned was $5,000 just to have the initial consult and preliminary tests done. $5,000 just to be tested? Yikes is my first thought but can you really put a price on health, time and quality of life? Natural options are cash only as you would guess. I desperately want to get some cash in their hands so when the time is right these hopes can become the reality for both of them.

Anyone can donate using the paypal link in the upper right hand corner. It is completely safe and even if you only have a few dollars you can still use this option.

Please share this blog with your friends list on facebook, your email list, or whatever form of communication you use most. We are in a recession folks. I know exactly what that means for us average people but we can all do a little can't we?? For some that little bit might be just sharing this blog with others; an act of kindness that only takes a few minutes. And there are some people out there in a position to do a bit more than a little so help me spread the word and reach them.

The Baumgartens have never asked for any fundraising or help in this way but I know they have been the answer to the prayers of many, including myself and I would guess many of you. This is one way we can try to lighten their unimaginable burden and perhaps be the hands of God in answering their prayers.

 Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of

the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40