Ramayana Blog

Amy's Angels Free Handmade Cards for Cancer Fighters
Noradoramora Chemo Caps for only $13 when purchasing as a Spirit Jump
Colleen Geary's Arbonne 20% discount when sending as a Spirit Jump gift
Cheese & Chocolate 15% discount for those purchasing a gift for a Spirit Jump
Charms of Light 20% discount for those purchasing as a Spirit Jump gift. Promotion Code: Spirit Jump
Wind Rose Fiber Studio 20% discount for those purchasing a gift for a Spirit Jump. Type "Spirit Jump" in the message to seller box at your time of purchase
Altered Angel Supply 15% discount for spirit jumpers
Ciszek Design 15% discount for Spirit Jumpers
Miss Berly's Designs 15% discount when the coupon code SJ is used
Ladybugs and Lilypads 10% discount when you use the code SPIRIT at checkout
Celeste Craft 10% discount for Spirit Jump gifts, both ready-made and custom items
Tags-n-Stones Free shipping when you send a spirit jump. Put SJ in instructions
Hot Wax Art 10% discount on purcahse prices to Spirit Jumpers
Kristens Custom Creations Free Shipping for Spirit Jump gifts
Daisy Cake Soap 20% off when sending as SJ. Use Coupon Code "Spiritjump"
Self Symmetry 15% discount & a special note provided. Enter "SpiritJump" as the coupon
Silver Dot Jewelry Design 20% discount just include the coupon code SPIRITJUMP in box
Silver Sachet 20% discount just include the coupon code SPIRITJUMP in box called Discount Coupon (excluding sale & clearance items)
Scent Station Inc. 10% off order 10% donated directly to SJ per order, must order direct from: ubrewme@yahoo.com
Sun Frog Originals 20% discount when purchasing a gift for a Spirit Jump. Type "Spirit Jump" in message to seller box at your time of purchase.
Blue Dandelion Designs 30% off to Jumpers for either an existing album or 20% off a custom order

As many of you know, Spirit Jump is run and completely funded by two cancer patients and we are in need of lots of things in order to keep up with our amazing and very unexpected growth. We recently began accepting tax-deductible donations as we are a non-profit organization.

Initially, Spirit Jump used a trial of a program called Tip Joy in order to accept donations. However, at this time we have this particular program does not offer the features we need to have in order to meet our operating and reporting requirements as a non-profit organization that offers TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS to its contributors.

As a non-profit foundation we are required to send each donor a tax-receipt for the amount of money they donated so that they are able to write it off of their taxes at the end of the year. Unfortunately, Tip Joy did not provide the features required for us to send out these tax-receipts to our donors.

After working with a Financial Consultant, we have found that PayPal offers a 100% SECURE DONATION PAGE and is the most convenient way for Donors to give to our cause. PayPal also offers us the ability to run our operating reports and send our tax-receipts to our donors with the click of a button and without any fee.

PayPal has provided us with a "DONATE" Button for the Spirt Jump Website as well as the ability to accept donations made with credit cards, debit cards and PayPal right away.

Our donors also DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO MAKE THEIR DONATIONS!

If you would like to donate to Spirit Jump, simply click on the "DONATE" Button in the top, right hand corner of the Spirit Jump home page. This link will direct you to a SECURE donation page through PayPal. Following your donation, you will receive a letter of acknowledgement in the mail confirming your donation so that it may be used for tax purposes at the end of the year.

Words cannot express our gratitude for all you have done in promoting and supporting our program. We are so sorry for any inconvenience this has caused any of our donors.

If you have any questions regarding this new process, PLEASE feel free to email me at Stacy@spiritjump.com and I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

I was contacted by several people on Twitter (social network for those of you who are not a part of it) asking that Spirit Jump do something to lift the spirits of this amazing girl. I contacted her mother and asked if Spirit Jump could help and she sent this moving email in response:

“My daughter Destiny is 9 and she has Neurofibromatosis (Nf). All I do is tell her story and I spread awareness to whoever will listen. You would be surprised how many doctors and nurses that don't know what Nf is for instance here is my daughter's story.

Destiny was 10 months old when she was trying to walk. She took 2 or 3 steps and then she sat in the floor crying, there was nothing I could do to console her. Finally, after a while, I took her to the emergency room. While there they examined her and found that she had multiple fractures in her right leg and they saw the cafe au lait spots and said that they were bruises after she was misdiagnosed for child abuse.

Child Protective Services took her away and 2 days later she was seen by an orthopedic who diagnosed her with Nf. Her broken leg was tibial dysplasia and psuedoathrosis which is a congenital bone defect that sometimes occurs with NF. That's how I found out my daughter had Nf.

Destiny has had several surgeries to repair her leg but none of them helped and 2 years ago when she was 7 she had her foot amputated and she now wears a prosthetic leg as a result. She was also sent to a neurologist who found the tumor on her brain stem and the optic glioma on her left optic nerve. My daughter has to have a MRI every 6 months.

All I do is tell her story. I do it because I want the world to know what nf is. If the world knows there can be no more mistakes.

Destiny likes to read, draw, sing ,dance. She loves babies and video games and loves animals.

for all Destiny goes through she is a true inspiration to everyone. She may have Neurofibromatosis but that doesn't stop her from striving to be that best that she can be everyday and touching everyones life in the process.

two people have been battling and remain brave, inspirational and strong. Please help me lift their spirits. Just email Spiritjumper@spiritjump.com & say you want to jump Destiny's spirits.

Today's post is a wonderful offer by our good friend and Spirit Jumper Noradora. She has made some wonderful Chemo Caps that would make a great Spirit Jump gift for someone who is losing or has lost their hair due to chemo.

There are also lots more shops who offer great discounts when you purchase a gift for a Spirit Jump. All shops donate gifts to people battling as well so I encourage you to purchase gifts for people battling from them. To check out all the jumpers just click on JUMPERS on the top bar of this website :)

Hi Spirit Jumpers!

Having been inspired by this spirited group, I have Crocheted With Love a stylish hat from my own original design. I have chosen the softest of soft yarn for comfort and any recipient could wear this style for casual or dress up and be comfortable at all times.

If you are a member of “Spirit Jump” and would like to purchase this hat to jump the spirits of someone with cancer, please visit my shop Noradoramora , convo me and I will make a reserved listing for you and reduce the price to $13. I have this hat in 19 different colors.

In addition to these "Crocheted With Love Hats" I additionally offer a 10% discount to a Spirit Jumper who buys other hats or items from my shop to jump the spirits of someone from our list. This 10% discount does not apply to the "Crocheted With Love Hat" as I will discount that hat by $5.00 when you place your order.

This is the information I would need if you want to purchase one of my hats to send:

-Name of person you are sending this to.
-Address of same
-Special note (I will copy it and print to send with hat).

My special thanks to Meaghan and Stacy for making it possible for me to offer this to our Spirit Jumpers!

Warmly,
Noreen aka NoraDoraMora and Noradora

We have been asked to put together a list of gift suggestions. First I would like to encourage everyone to check out the Spirit Jumpers who have shops. You can see some amazing handmade gifts by click on the Tab Jumpers. There make jewelery, chemo hats, blankets, artwork, stuffed animals etc...And every shop with ** next to it gives a special discount to people who are purchasing gifts for Spirit Jump.

Here is a quick list of gift ideas that were shared with my by people who have/are battling cancer:

• Netflix Membership
• iTunes Gift Cards
• Humor Books - Get your friend funny books to read or have read to them.
• Misc. Cancer Apparel - Here are some misc. sites with all types of cool gifts and cancer gear for the cancer fighter/survivor in your life!

Cancer Apparel, Cancer books & CDs, Buttons, Gift Baskets, Assorted gifts, Jewelry, Cancer Sucks stuff, Wrist Bands, Caregiver gifts, New Cancer Products, Treatment Days

Cool Swag for Knitting Freaks!! Us fighters get bored laying around all the time. If your fighter knits this site was recommended by another survivor. Totally Awesome stuff for everyone who knits.

• Knit them something. If you can knit this is a great gift! Terri's friend made her one of these and she loved it.
• JulieMeryl this girl donates 100% all net profits to the LLS!
  
• Gift Back this is a grate place to send flowers, and you can choose from tons of charity's to donate 10% of your total cost!
  
• Tutti Fruity Designs 10% of every sale to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Twenty percent for featured products. Cute things for little kids and their moms.
• Sports Gifts for Cancer Fighters this is a unique gift place for sports fans
  
• Cancer Research UK Gifts this is for our UK frends
  
• Chillow Pillow for those whose treatment results in menopause
  
• Gas Cards for those who have long drives to their treatment centers. It can add up b/c often treatment is every day for months upon months.
• Personalized Gift Baskets
• Cards - cheap, easy & so important!! Home made cards are great too if you are on a tight budget.
  Food (depending on the situation)
• Books
• Read books/magazines to them or get books on CD
• Write on Caringbridge or blogs
  
• Flowers
• Games
• Chapstick
  Pajamas
• Angel statue
  
• Pillows
  
• Blankets
  
• Stuffed animals
• CDs/music
• DVDs
• Inspirational Jewelry
• Fruit basket or Edible Arrangement
  
• Lotion
  
• Fancy Shmansy Water bottle
• Cancer books
• Magazines
• Eye Masks
  
• Hand Held Games
• Slip On Slippers

I received an email from Sammie’s mom today and wanted to share it with all the Spirit Jumpers. Those of you who send out cards & gifts to Sammie know her story. She is a brave 11 year old girl who has been battling bone cancer for about 3 years. Unfortunately they have run out of treatment options and are now spending time together. Recently Spirit Jump ask for cards and small gifts to be sent to this family in hopes of lifting their spirits during this very difficult time. Here is what Sammie’s mom wrote me:

We have had the most amazing and thoughtful gifts coming for Sammie.. and they always drop me a note as well! Someone sent flowers.. very beautiful flowers.. handmade soaps,, teddy bears..webkinz.. everyday is a surprise.. thank you again for your compassion and kindness.

I have been trying to send thank you notes as well.. Please add that today we got the most AMAZING art work.. a collage of photos (my words do not do it justice) that brought me to my knees and made Sammie smile a very big smile.. we also got a blanket, with a collector Cabbage Patch doll..a personal teddy bear from someone that went through chemo already.. some lovely earrings.. and the cutest monkey.. All the homemade cards are so touching and SO much talent.. thank you for giving us something to look forward to during the long days at home..
With respect, love and gratitude.

Chris- Mom to Sammie
her caring bridge site is..

http://www.blogger.com/www.caringbridge.org/visit/sammiehartsfield

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND SOMETHING TO SAMMIE EMAIL:

Spiritjumper@spiritjump.com

Stacy is currently fighting Stage IV Melanoma. Diagnosed, October, 2007, Stacy is still undergoing treatment and fighting this horrible battle.

Click on either of their names to be re-directed to their personal websites.

If you have a shop, artistic abilities or even an extra card in your drawer and you want to give it to a person in need, send us an email that you want to be a Spirit Jumper at spiritjumper@spiritjump.com We will then connect you directly with a person in need, or we can give you a list of names, a brief description of what their particular cancer battle is and you can choose. When the match is made, We’ll give you that persons mailing address and then it’s up to you to send the gift. It’s a simple.

If you decide to be a Spirit Jumper you will be overwhelmed with the joy and warmth you feel when giving a gift. Additionally, every Spirit Jumper is welcome to write a post on our website and tell our many readers about your shop, blog or website. You may include links, photos and any information you want to be featured on the site. We encourage you to also include why you decided to donate, who you donated to and maybe even a photo of what you donated. This will be wonderful exposure for your shop, blog, website and you will be lifting someone’s spirit, WIN, WIN!

Want to be a Spirit Jumper just email: spiritjumper@spiritjump.com

Need a spirit jump or know someone who does just email: needaspiritjump@spiritjump.com

This website is a work in progress so please keep checking back!

This is a post my dear friend Shakenfruit wrote. The advice she gives is dead on and I thought many of you might find it helpful. If you want to check out her blog go to www.shakenfruit.blogspot.com

If I introduced you to my friend Meaghan, you would turn to me and say very seriously: that chick is awesome! Then you would scheme about enticing her out for a night on the town. But along with all this Meaghan fabulousness, there are tiny bummers, for example, Meaghan's friends function largely on a need to know basis. She was like this before she was diagnosed with Stage 3B cervical cancer.

Before the cancer, if you needed to know she smoked the LSAT and was attending Law School in the fall, you were told. We are all dying to be on Meaghan's "need to know' list." It is a small special coven of pink things, scathing intelligence and wise counsel. Some how, I have managed to weasel my way into her heart.

Meaghan is going to write a book about her diagnosis and treatment, and she asked if I, ShakenFruit, would consider contributing a small piece about being her friend throughout the ordeal. I'm not sure I have anything useful to offer, but I would love to help anyone who hates living on a "need to know basis" in general, much less when our darling, irreverent, full-of-life friend turns into skin and bones before our eyes.

When Meaghan was finally diagnosed properly (you'll read about the HORROR of not being properly diagnosed when she writes her book) we were all in shock. What Meaghan went through is incomprehensible. Get that Lifetime Channel, made for TV "Fighting For My Life" special starring some bald, Z list actress out of your head, because what happened was WAY WORSE.

If your friend is anything like Meaghan, I hope these thoughts help:

Show Up. Unless you Are Asked Not To Show Up
Sometimes Meaghan was alert and awake and feeling up to having visitors, and I was just so desperate to see her and have her know how much I love her, that I would forget to be nice when I got a call that she wasn't feeling up to a visit. How Meaghan was feeling could change on a dime, and because her symptoms involved feeling very physically uncomfortable and enduring very personal side effects, sometimes she just didn't want anyone around. That's her prerogative. She's the one with cancer. I regret that I didn't suck it up sooner (like, IMMEDIATELY) and put a card in the mail, or search out something funny to send, like a Margaret Cho video.

Now is the time to lavish your friend and her family with wholesome goodies, funny cards, funny e-mailed videos (if she is feeling up to looking at a computer screen. Seriously, sometimes looking at a computer screen would make Meaghan sick, or was too much effort, or she was too tired, etc....) or just leave a message for her family sending your love and white light. If you are able to visit, bring something: a knitting project, a book, a long report you need to slog through. Sometimes the patient needs to nap, or needs to be in the bathroom for a long time. Bringing something with you shows you don't expect to be entertained.

Don't Ask a Million Questions. Or Maybe Ask a Million Questions.
Of course you want to know everything. This is your shiny darling friend. The one who got you through that horrible relationship, saw you out the other side and (most amazing to you) DOESN'T JUDGE YOU FOR IT. You want to know everything about what she's going through, except, you can't, and honestly, unless you are her primary care provider? It's not your job.

It is your job to tell funny stories about life outside cancer, and listen to her every word, and not open your mouth before she's through. Sometimes it is your job to get her ginger ale while nausea passes. But it is not your job to understand every medical thing that is happening to her. In fact, if you can ask someone else who knows, like her primary care giver? Ask them instead, because she is sick of answering everyone's questions.

Now, Meaghan received care at the most respected cancer treatment hospital in our country's questionable health care system. The best. So I had no reason to ACTUALLY be concerned about the care she received. They had it down. Cold. It was ugly and brutal and painful, but it was the best care she could receive. Your friend might not have the same luxury (if that is AT ALL the appropriate word) when it comes to her treatment.

The million questions I swallowed rose to my lips because I thought I needed to know. I didn't. But maybe you do. If you need to ask questions because the quality of your friend's care is in doubt, start by asking questions very, very gently. And don't ask your friend. She is too busy STAYING ALIVE to take copious notes and feel grateful for your interest.

This is a very Important post! Please read and pass along to everyone you know.

The picture you see above was created by one of our Spirit Jumpers in an effort to lift the spirits of a young child batting terminal cancer. Now she continues to help the fight against cancer by auctioning the painting off and donating ALL proceeds.

I asked the artist to tell you, in her own words, how she came to create this beautiful painting and why she is auctioning it.

The Ebay auction is running for 10 days to bid please click HERE

I am taken aback by the generosity here and I truly hope that everyone considers bidding and forwarding this on to friends and family!

I received an email with a GREAT offer from one of the Spirit Jumpers, Noreen. Recently we have had many new people join Spirit Jumpers. A few of them informed me that they were hesitant to join at first because they weren't "crafty" or "artistic". I had to giggle to myself because I am the least crafty or artistic person I have ever met. While many of our Spirit Jumpers happen to be extremely talented that is NOT a requirement to be a Jumper. Personally I pick up cute cards and purchase things from some of the Jumpers who have shops.

Speaking of buying things from other jumpers, Noreen made a pretty cool offer:

I would like to offer that if anyone wants to purchase a gift from either of my shops to send from a spirit jumper...I will give a 10% discount and will mail it with a printed note provided by the person who has purchased the item! The Spirit Jumper would have to first convo me through my shop so I could reduce the price and then they would need to send me a note with the name and address of the person being jumped so I can mail the gift to them. I could cut and paste the note from the jumper on a paper to include with the gift.

Noreen Farrington

http://www.noradora.etsy.com (Doll Items)
http://www.noradoramora.etsy.com (hats, gloves, scarves and many more items)