Dear Friends and Family,
I did not wake up one day and say, “Hey, I want to go to the Dominican! That sounds fun!” Instead, early on in life my eyes were opened to the difference I have the chance to make.
I have the opportunity to change many lives, including mine, but I can’t do it without your help. For my future career, I want more than anything to serve those who have not had the opportunities I have had by working in impoverished communities at home and abroad, offering medical care, teaching preventative health classes, and helping to make medical help more readily available. Medical School is in my future, but I am still exploring which discipline.
Working towards this goal I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and will be finishing up an Associate degree in Community Health at Utah Valley University along with my High School diploma from UCAS next year, am a member of the National Honor Society (putting in many service hours within our local community), am an active participant in UCAS’s winning Science Olympiad Team, and an active member in my local Medical Explorers group. My Medical Explorer group meets every two weeks at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. This year we have done(or will be doing) FMRI/Concussion, Radiation Therapy, Suturing (don’t worry, it was on pig’s feet, no human subjects yet ;)), Imaging, Women’s Services, Oncology, Surgery, Physical Therapy, Hyperbarics, Cardiothoracic Surgery, NICU, Plastic Surgery, and ending with a Life Flight experience.
I have an opportunity with my Medical Explorers group to go to the Dominican Republic and do similar service to that of my dream career with the DREAM project (http://dominicandream.org/). As a member who is going on the trip I will get even more training in the medical field. Once in the Dominican, I will be helping distribute medical supplies, teach health classes, and contribute manual labor. I may also have a chance to assist Haitian refugees, which would mean the world to me because it would allow me to further appreciate my brother and his origins, since my brother is from Haiti. I have also taken a little Spanish and hope to learn more before this trip. I love the Spanish language and hope to improve my fluency while in the Dominican Republic. The experience would benefit me because it will allow me to find if this is the career path I truly want to follow before applying to universities next year. It also will allow me to give back in gratitude for all the care I got while homebound most of last year with illness. I know many lives in the Dominican will be affected by the education and supplies my team will be sharing.
As the time to leave (June 17-24) draws nearer, we will get a list of supplies that can be donated to the Dream Project in the Dominican. My suitcase will be filled with donations and I will only have a small carry on for my personal items (I think that will be an education in and of itself ;) )
This trip costs approximately 2,000 dollars (they said the exact cost of airfare is still fluctuating), and I cannot raise that much money alone. Since I am only 15, and my day starts with a bus ride from Spanish Fork to Orem at 7:00 am and nonstop classes until I return at 5:30 pm, my job opportunities are limited. Any remaining time is filled with homework and service. I have thought about making things to sell but I can’t figure out what I have to offer or time to make it in. I have sold everything I have of value, even my treasured drum set (but I am holding on to my violin), to raise money for the first installment, which is due December 15 then monthly thereafter. I need your help to make this a possibility!
So far I have only mentioned my need to a few people and I am so grateful for the response it has received. In light of what people have offered thus far, I have decided to hold a raffle. For every $5.00 donated you are entered into a raffle. Winners will be announced the first of every month starting in January and ending in June 2012.
There is now a PayPal button so you can conveniently donate with a credit card, but there is an extra bonus for all cash and check donations made out to UVRMC Post 955 (Rian's Road in the memo part) are TAX DEDUCTABLE. I can take your checks and cash into the hospital and get you a receipt, both Medical Explorers (part of Boy Scouts of America) and the DREAM Project are non profits and the monies made out to them counts as a tax deduction. If you put my name in the memo then they will deduct that amount from the cost of my trip. Just in time for tax season. BONUS!
Dr. Don Whittaker from Ohana Chiropractic has been instrumental in getting me back on the road to good health. I am forever indebted to him for all of his efforts on my behalf. He offered a raffle winner the gift of health too, an initial NAET assessment, first treatment, and chiropractic assessment. A value of $130.00 (from my experience, I’d value it even more)
More information can be found on Dr. Whittaker here: http://www.goodhealthchiro.com/
More information on NAET here: http://www.naet.com/
My mother has been an instructor at the Utah College of Massage Therapy and is a gifted massage therapist. Though she closed her official business to focus on raising us, she will put her skills to work for lucky raffle winners. She is offering a 60 minute massage in her home office. A value of $50.00 (2 winners a month)
I, Rian, offer spots of 5 hours of child or pet care to be redeemed in May, June, July, or August. (2 winners a month)
Whatever you can donate will be greatly appreciated; things to raffle off, advice :-), monies, and, as we get the list, donations that DREAM could use that I will carry to them in my suitcase. If I raise above what I need, all proceeds will go towards either others being able to go on the trip or the DREAM Project.
If you make it possible for me to go on this mission, I promise to post pictures on the blog and write about the trip when I get back, as I am not sure how much internet access will be available while in the Dominican.
I am aware that many are struggling right now. I read a story today at Helpothers.org (one of my favorite websites) that brought me to tears…
"One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry and so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested from the business office to pass the final billing to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words:
"PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK....
(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly."
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love is shed abroad through human hearts and hands."
I promise to pay it all back in full. It may never effect you directly, but I promise that I will give to help others whenever, wherever I can.
Gratefully yours,
Rian
To get a tax deduction checks must be made out to: UVRMC Post 955 (Rian's Road in Memo) If the tax deduction is not important then please make it out to Rian (saves on paperwork :))
Mailing Address:
Rian’s Road
PO Box 935
Spanish Fork, Utah
