I have posted on here before...and was suprised to get absolutely no responses.

I was looking for opinions on a charity for bandsters to donate to that will help a few people a year who otherwise would not be able to get lapband...or to help those who have to have removal. That type of stuff. Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this being tried or if anyone would ever be interested in being involved in an organization like that?

Thanks,

Dahlia

Haven't gotten my surgery yet - but still haven't totally lost hope.

I think it would be a good idea to try to start up something like that. Sometimes people need alittle help now and then.

Its not about "not wanting to help others" but right now so many of us are struggling just to Make it through OUR OWN SURGERY issues.. whethere its financial, insurance battles, mental, real life people around us that are against it, or don't understand.. and the stress of knowing that we as patients are on the cusp of making a HUGE lifechanging choice... that leaves little room in my life to worry about someone else that doesn't exist in my real life.

If I had the money I would pay for my mom to have it. No question.. I would fly her to Denver or to Mexico and have it done in a heartbeat.

and Jack is right, the couple that posted the essay contest a few months ago left some bad tastes in peoples mouthes because they announced that a winner had been chosen, but that was it. The winner in question never posted once about winning or progress and it left others who bared their souls to strangers a little skeptical and bitter.... that is why you didn't get any responses....

Great Idea, but at this time I would be unable to donate.

I feel that I give my support HERE on LBT....... does that make sense?

Yes...that would be the greatest thing

I have passed on info to a few of my heavy weight friends --like me..But I get excuses like---Can I eat my barbecue anymore? "Baby food-oh I can't do that"...I said--for maybe 2 weeks of your life, you can't eat soft mushy food to save your life?

So--I say this---Maybe the wrong people are hearing this from me....

There is just so much involved in making something like you mention a legal reality. Very few, if any of us have money to just give away with the blind faith that it will be used for the purpose we intended to give it for. I mean say 100 of us, agreed to what you say and we each blindly sent off $50.00 each----it still is not enough for surgery---so what then? It has to be a recognized charity for our donation to be tax deductable---with receipt in hand. What happens to our $$$?

It is a great idea, and if someone is flush enough to outright pay for the surgery for someone, then it becomes a liability issue for them.

We live in such a litigious society, it becomes harder with each passing day to just be nice to someone we don't know! And like Tracy said, most of us know personally someone we would love to help if we had the funds to do so....it is not that we are ignoring the need or the desire to help others. I fully believe most of us are very supportive, and have a desire to help....but show us a safe way!

Kat

I fully believe most of us are very supportive, and have a desire to help....but show us a safe way!

Kat

I agree totally! I hate to have to feel this way but I would want to make sure that any money I may be able to give goes for the intended purpose. Unfortunately, our society is so that we can't trust people like we wish we could. It sucks, but it's reality.

Everytime I see someone struggling like I have been all my life, I want to run up to them and tell them about this amazing miracle that I have discovered to aid me in my weight loss journey! I also would love to help people that can't financially afford it but that is just not a luxury that I have. We know how much lapband has done for us and how it has changed our lives and we would love to give someone else that blessing, but we can't. Man if I could, my sister would be scheduling her surgery right now!

On another Lap Band support site, they are working on becoming incorporated or something of the sort, and will have a board of directors (volunteered---unpaid), in order to try to do something like you are talking about. It has been being talked about for some time, and still being worked towards---but nothing finalized yet.

Kat

Its not about "not wanting to help others" but right now so many of us are struggling just to Make it through OUR OWN SURGERY issues.. whethere its financial, insurance battles, mental, real life people around us that are against it, or don't understand..

I agree completely.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

All the problems I have encountered with insurance have been making me think about once this is all over, looking into ways to help fight insurance companies from excluding/not covering WLS surgery.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

Fighting for change in insurance procedures is probably a lost cause but there has to be a way to make them realize that in the long run, it's cheaper to provide coverage for WLS than to pay for all the mental and physical ailments, diseases, disorders, medications, etc that are related to obesity.<O:p</O:p

I'm currently financing my own surgery. I've given at the alter of information (see Blue Cross Blue Shield thread).

I have my own thoughts about doing things for free. There was a time in my life when I had two babies and we were oh so very broke. My thoughts are that if one is financially strapped and disadvantaged, they have Medicaid and for them, Medicaid covers the procedure.

I'm currently financing my own surgery. I've given at the alter of information (see Blue Cross Blue Shield thread).

AMEN SISTER! LOL sorry for the threadjack, but I snorted Water out of my nose laughing at this one! [end threadjack]

Well, firstly everyone jumps at the financial issue. I am not talking about one or two people paying for someone to have surgery. What I am talking about is opening an actual charity along the lines of "Make a wish" but for bariatric surgery. People can donate anything, even $5 to the cause.

Second, I understand that most people on here are having their own surgery and all that. I myself have no insurance and no chance for financing...am trying to save up for self pay. But, there are also a lot of people on here who are years out from their surgeries. Maybe if there were organizations or charities for people like us down the line others wouldn't be having such problems like we are dealing with.

But, hey if people are too busy with their own lives and all that no problem. I am not looking to start this today...but just looking for some opinons to see if it would even be worthwile...I think I got the answer.

Thanks

Dahlia

On a softer note that what I posted (then deleted) a few minutes ago.

To make the subject of your post 'does no one want to help' flies against everything we are all on this site for - to help one another.

It may not be financialy, but this is an awesome site, and all I see is a sincere desire to help and support one another.

I think there are a lot of people that would love to help others, both financially and emotionally. The people who run this forum do it for us, without pay and if you will notice, no advertisments!!! Many of us give financially to charities that are already up and running. As far as getting a charity up and off the ground, its no small feat, taxes, not for profit, etc. It takes thousands of dollars just to get it rolling.

I think that originally no one may have posted because what you were asking for was something outside of what this forum was intended for, and most people come here looking for support, and some of us get stretched pretty thin at times.

I hope you dont feel snubbed, really as I have found everyone here very supportive and kind. Your idea is a benevolent one, but one that might have more sucess in a face to face brainstorming with insurance companies, perhaps.

As for brainstorming with insurance companies...the whole point for a charity like this is because these people are unable to get insurance or healthcare. The charity would also offer counseling and such. But really, it's an idea and obvious that those on here are not affable to it.

So please consider this subject dropped.