Let's Help Renae!!!!!!

[bybystarlight]

So, if anybody hasn't heard yet from Ray Dillon (Renae de Liz' husband), Renae has been very ill. You can read what he has to say, HERE.

Hi, everyone-

Been avoiding saying anything publicly because I didn't want to cause worry prematurely and wanted to make sure I had more information and talked to our immediate family first.

Renae is recovering right now, just very slowly.

She has an infection that has spread into her blood and kidneys, as well as pneumonia and some other things we're worried about, but I don't want to say anything there until test results are back. As of today she's doing a bit better and we're told after perhaps a week in the Critical Care Unit she should be mostly recovered. It got really bad and we almost lost her. Been a very rough couple of weeks. We're behind in work, income, communication, and our nerves are just shot from all this. (I can't even think about the likely $30k or more in medical bills we're racking up here with no health insurance and we don't qualify for assistance...)

So, please understand that we're unable to get back to everyone checking in on current or future projects, Womanthology copies, or anything else right now. Please give us 2-3 weeks. I'll do my best during that time, but can't promise to get back to everyone. Renae will likely be in CCU for a week or more, not sure how long she'll be in a recovery room after that. My focus is taking care of her and the kids during this (which I can't do at the same time because Critical Care doesn't allow kids).

I just can't keep up on all these messages right now, but I'll do my best. If you could help by spreading the word so no one out there is getting frustrated by not hearing back from us sooner that would be amazing. Particularly on Womanthology. If you happen to see someone asking about it, please direct them here and to the updates on the Womanthology Kickstarter Updates page, which should answer all questions. Books and other rewards are in process as quickly as we can get them out. Most of them are done! But we're sorry for any delay this might cause, if any. It's mostly out of our hands at this point and just about everything is already on its way to the backers.

So aside from a few pre-scheduled tweets and blogs to keep things running I'll be away from the computer most of the time for right now.

Huge thank you to Stacie Ponder (check out her movies and comics!) for helping with the kids while I visit Renae and to Renae's sister Kimberly De Liz (check out her art!) for offering to fly all the way over here to Maine to help with the kids.

And to everyone who already knows and has offered their support and love and everyone who surely will. Thank you.

~Ray

It's a relief to hear Renae will be ok in time, but I wonder if there's something we can all do to help raise funds for the medical bills?

Renae has done so very much for all of us with Womanthology, so I think it's the least we can all do to repay her kindness by doing SOMETHING to help....

And that's where this forum thread comes into play...

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

Be it an art auction, or a print book, or just straight up donations let's do SOMETHING! Any ideas, thoughts, and contributions are greatly welcome.

Thank you in advance!

[Peggy]

As I said on Twitter, I'd be willing to donate art to help or write something or both. Also, I know that Ray Dillon has a Paypal donation account here: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/we...5540fd44243d03 if anyone wants/is able to give them a little financial help

[jeandrawsstuff]

I wonder if they qualify for a grant from Hero Initiative. Anyone know who to contact for this?

I think an online auction would be a great idea and instead of just art, we could also auction off commission requests, portfolio reviews, script reviews, etc.

[GemmaDuffill]

That paypal link didn't work for me. I don't have much but I know how painful financing healthcare in the US can be, I'd like to donate a little bit to help.

[Peggy]

Try here - http://raydillonrandom.blogspot.com/....html?spref=tw the donate link is in the sidebar

[amandadeibert]

I think that an art auction is a great idea in combintion with the paypal...for people who maybe can't afford to give a lot but want to do something. Also, paypal is a great option for those of us who can't draw in order to contribute.

[NAAN]

Oh no!! I really really hope she gets better

Originally Posted by amandadeibert

I think that an art auction is a great idea in combintion with the paypal...for people who maybe can't afford to give a lot but want to do something. Also, paypal is a great option for those of us who can't draw in order to contribute.

This sounds like a great option. Jean's suggestions (commissions, reviews, etc) sounds great too.

[Zorilita]

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry to hear this! I'd be willing to donate art or something. I hope she'll be ok.

[sherri rose]

Originally Posted by jeandrawsstuff

I wonder if they qualify for a grant from Hero Initiative. Anyone know who to contact for this?

I think an online auction would be a great idea and instead of just art, we could also auction off commission requests, portfolio reviews, script reviews, etc.

I hope she gets well soon.
This is a great idea! I'd be glad to donate art or do request to help Renae out.

[comickergirl]

The art auction is looking like a pretty good idea, in addition to the Paypal. Happy to help with whatever folks can come up with.

[Chandra]

Just be careful about Paypal. They've gotten persnickety about donations when the receivers aren't a 501(c). They can't be trusted anymore for this sort of thing. Is there another way to donate that won't possibly land them in trouble?

Maybe if the Hero Initiative could set up a special fund or donations to them could be earmarked?

Hero Initiative

[Jody Houser]

For person-to-person transfer, it's pretty easy to bypass the donation thing if needed. Paypal lets you send someone a personal payment that lets you avoid fees. The sender just has to take some extra steps and make sure they select the right options.

The Hero Initiative is set up through eBay's MissionFish, which means anyone could list an eBay auction with the funds publicly earmarked as going to The Hero Initiative. Unfortunately, it's harder for non-charities to do the same type of thing and say that auction proceeds are going to a certain cause. If something could be worked out with The Hero Initiative, that would be fantastic.

There are also free non-auction storefronts that can be set up for selling items for a set amount instead of bidding. The charity I work for has a shop on eCrater. You just have to advertise the hell out of it to get any traffic.

[Shae]

This is really sad. I hope she gets better soon. She definitely has all our love and support. I'm up to help out with an art auction and whatever can be done to help.

[Chandra]

I like the look of eCrater from what I've seen so far, if the Hero Initiative doesn't get involved. Either way I'd be in for donating art!

[jeandrawsstuff]

I have a convention coming up this weekend, an anime one called AM2, and I'll be doing $1 head sketches for donations.

Also, Southern California Womanthology peoples! I have an extra copy of Heroic and I'm hoping to be able to get as many of us together to sign it so that it can be auctioned off. Barbara Kesel suggested getting together on Sunday, June 24th at Comic Book Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/groups/comicbooksunday/

Send her a message in order to join the group.