Ava's Arm-y

 

 

I am completely at a loss for words to show my appreciation to the Blythe community for all of the amazing donations (raffle items and ticket sales) to help my family thru this difficult time. I can not thank you all enough or tell you how much it means to us.

 

My husband read my blog post the other day for the first time and saw all of the items that people have donated for the raffle. Afterwards he told me that he was completely humbled by this community. And that just makes me smile because it proves what an amazing group of people we have!!! AND we have officially gone over the 100 ticket sales mark now too! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ♥

 

I have gotten so many awesome donation prizes that I only think it's fair to split some of them up and offer not only the first place winner but also 2nd, 3rd and 4th place prizes too. Once I receive all of the items, which are still rolling in from all over the world, I will pick out some great stuff for each winner. Katie (DJ_Pichu on Flickr) has generously donated a beautiful pink Eurotrash helmet that I have decided will go to the second place winner for sure. Of course my little sheep custom will still come with a TON of amazing items that were specially made for her. Here are just a few of her outfits that she will come with.....

 

 

 

 

And there are so many more wonderful things! My friend, Jenn, made her a special sheep necklace and now she is selling those same necklaces in her Etsy shop. All proceeds from the sales will go to Ava's Arm-y. Here is the link if you would like to purchase one of her sweet little necklaces https://www.etsy.com/listing/105273245/made-to-order-avas-sheep-necklace-for.

 

Also Lorraine, Maasje Customs, will be customizing an Icy doll to sell and all proceeds from that sale will go to Ava's Arm-y too! You can check out her customs here https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Maasje-Customs/109837339186919?fref=ts. Once we have more information on this girl I will post photos and links.

*Here is a progress pic of her Icy girl http://www.flickr.com/photos/lolos_photos/8682288035/in/contacts/

 

As to when the raffle drawing will be held, I am going to shoot for June 1st. I think that will allow enough time for all the donation items to arrive and for me to photograph everything and get it all ready.

 

Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of the love and support that you have given to my family and I. If you're curious as to how Ava is doing I did a little update post last week. ♥

 

 

 



Commissions List

I have been thinking about my commissions list and have decided that I'm going to finish up my current list and then close it for a while.
With everything that is going on with my daughter and with Summer coming up I just think that I need a little break.
I will most likely be taking 2 FULL commissions a month, but the full workload of a doll a week that I've been doing steady is starting to take it's toll on me, my family and my neglected house/yard.
I will make announcements when I have openings coming up. ♥
I am considering just offering the 2 Full Commissions in my Etsy shop when I have the time to do them.

A Full Commission would include:
Lid Art
Faceup
Lip, Nose and Philtrum Carving
Gaze Correction and Boggle
4 Pairs of Handpainted Eyechips
Sleep Eyes with Twiggy Rings, Beads and Charms
Lashes

*This does not include the doll. You would provide your own doll and be responsible for shipping her to me. You would not have to have all of the above work done but it will still be the same price if you opt not to include something.

Update on Ava

I just wanted to give everyone that is following Ava's story an update.

Yesterday we went to her weekly doctor's appointment and she had her cast removed. The above photo shows a little of what her arm looked like. The aqua things are the caps that are on top of the pins that were in her bone. There was a third one on the underside of her arm where the major part of the surgery was. She has two incisions, the one you can see here and a much larger one on the underside.

The pin that was on the underside had lost it's cap when the first splint came off and the doctor didn't want to try and push it back on, fearing that he would hurt her by pushing the pin too. So when her cast was removed yesterday there was quite a bit of dried blood where the pin had been moving and rubbing on the incision...that pin slid out with all the gauze because it was crusted with blood. Thankfully it had healed up a bit and looked okay. The two top pins had to be removed by the doctor with a pair of pliers and a little wiggling and force. We had talked about her possibly having to go under again to get the pins out but she is one tough girl and pushed thru the pain while she was awake.

So cast and pins have been removed now and the incisions are healing well. She had some drainage from where the pins came out so is on antibiotics but should be just fine. She didn't try to move her elbow yet as she is VERY scared to do so. So the doctor has put another splint on it that can be removed for her to bathe. X-rays showed that the bone has healed perfectly and she has a lot of new bone growth now. So that is wonderful news!

There hasn't been any improvement on her damaged nerve yet. The doctor told us yesterday that a nerve regenerates at 1 milimeter a day and she has to regenerate the nerve from her elbow all the way to her fingertips so it is going to take a LONG time. So still no feeling or movement in her index finger and thumb and her wrist wants to move out to the side instead of up and down. So even when she IS able to use that arm and hand she will still have to use her left hand to write, eat and do every day things. She is in high spirits though and is my little trooper!

Next week's appointment we should be getting some physical therapy exercises for her to work on to strengthen up her arm.

Thank you again for all the love and support that everyone has given me, Ava and my family.

Ava's Pins & Getting X-rays with her new splint

♥ SNEAK PEEK ♥ Counting Sheep Custom Girl ~ A Raffle for Ava

This is a special girl that I have created to raise funds for my family to help pay my daughter's medical bills. If you don't know about Ava's story please read my previous post.

It started off with a few of my closest dolly friends and I talking about doing a giveaway for one of my customs and has grown into an amazing effort from the Blythe community to help by donating items to be raffled off with her. I can't begin to express how much this has meant to me to have so many people that want to help my family. I can not thank you all enough. Seriously. From the bottom of my heart I am so grateful!

I will be receiving donation items from friends within the next few weeks to be included in the giveaway and will keep the list updated here. As soon as all of the items have arrived I will publicly announce here on my blog, my facebook page and various Blythe forums on how to enter if you haven't already done so. (The store is up and running so if you already know you would like to purchase tickets please feel free to do so now).

I have created a "store" above my posts on my blog called Tickets that has one item in it. If you click on the photo of this sweet girl you will see the Counting Sheep tickets for $10 each. You can purchase as many tickets as you would like, there is no limit. Once you are ready to check out it will take you directly to Paypal to send payment. Please DO NOT make any comments in your PayPal invoice about a raffle.

I haven't decided on how long I will let the tickets be sold yet...I will have to sit down and figure out the details. But once I close the ticket sales your name will go in a hat for each ticket that you  have purchased. I will do a video of Ava drawing the winner from a hat and post that here.

Thank you all so much for the love and support. ♥


ITEMS & DONATIONS INCLUDED:

Me (Kaleidoscope Kustoms):
*Custom Simply Chocolate FBL Doll
*Cream & Red Lalatroop Hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8650866950/in/photostream
*Simply Chocolate Stock Dress & Shoes
*Takara Stock Stand

Maggi (Kawaii Kandy):
*Double Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream Hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/kawaii_kandy/8649550030/in/photostream
*Liquiriziadolly Handpainted Eyechips http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8653896936/in/photostream/

Kimberly (Rosiee Gelutie):
*Ice Cream Short Playsuit
*Red & White Polka Dot Collared Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8655581835/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=539992472718758&set=a.227519067299435.69989.204951886222820&type=1&theater

Jenn (Soul's Fire Designs):
*Sheep Necklace http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulsfiredesigns/8661218722/in/photostream
*2 Pairs of Earrings http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulsfiredesigns/8648809317/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8673610718/in/photostream/ 

Christine (Unicornmine):
*Sew Pixie Petite Carrier
*4 Mab Graves Hair Bows http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8714370197/in/photostream/
*Fishknees Pink Striped Dress

Greta (Shepuppy):
*Tulip Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/74531910@N04/8649247045/
*Red & White Polka Dot Tights
*Stock Black Shoes

Jackie (Amidorable Crochet):
*Sweet But Deadly Helmet http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8673610326/in/photostream


Sarah (BlahBlah Beanies):
*Teal Sheep Hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8672508539/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mskoach-blahblahbeanies/8650065656/
*Plastic Fashion Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8683965283/in/photostream/
*Licca Shoes


Sandey (Rag Bag Designs):
*Cream Lace Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8657627883/in/photostream
*Turquoise Skimmer Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8685734523/in/photostream/

Jenni (Twiggytree):
*Two Pairs of Jeans
*Top http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8685736403/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68787839@N02/8650983292/

Barb (DollNo.9):
*Pink & Brown Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8652795963/in/photostream

Mandy (Ellie Moe):
*4 Dresses http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8672508429/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839749@N08/8650417966/

Tab (Tabsdollies):
*Handmade Blythe Carrier
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8695670275/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50776194@N07/8658698579/in/photostream

Penny (DaffodilLane):
*6 Pairs of Socks http://www.flickr.com/photos/daffodillane/8681792193/in/faves-46777520@N03/

Nikola (Nixipixie):
*Hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8685736403/in/photostream/

Kelly (Kelalily Knits):
*Teal Sweater http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8672508539/in/photostream/

Nikki (LuxieLou):
*Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/luxielou/8664697802/ 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8676943238/

Erica Duh:
*Smitten Kitten Short & Shirt Set http://www.flickr.com/photos/designstar/8655499491/in/photostream

Chris (Kookanoid)
*Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8673610326/in/photostream

Lizzie (Pipercat99)
*Angora Dress
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8695669717/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pipercat99/8669213882/in/photostream/
*Fishknees Bubble Dress
*Wonder Frog
*Sock Monkey Party Hat by Willobea

Jill (Frankenkitty71):
*Atomic Blythe Sheep Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8714370197/in/photostream/
*Shoes

Laura (Liquiriziadolly)
Headband http://www.flickr.com/photos/57150435@N05/8660647636/in/photostream/

Christy (Pixiepoo):
*Throwaway Pet http://www.flickr.com/photos/christymarieb/8666096916/

Phillaine:
*Plastic Fashion Dress

Marce:
*Handmade Bear

Kris (SaffronSky):
*Dolly Lolly Pops http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8676943238/

Mandy (Sugar Blocks):
*Dress, Skirt, 2 pairs of socks

Katie (DJ_Pichu):
*Eurotrash Helmet http://www.flickr.com/photos/46777520@N03/8715491764/in/photostream 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/domokate/5858411533/in/set-72157621987882886

Angel (Puremeow):
*Ice Cream Dress
2 Commission Dresses for the Winners

Stacy (tunibug):
*Pow Wow Poncho Blythe Doll http://www.flickr.com/photos/28055464@N02/8713507101/

Sarah (EssHippo):
*Baby Fangster Hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/esshaych/8685932243/

Care (StitchWhipped):
*Sheep Dress http://www.flickr.com/photos/obsessivelystitching/8705362192/

Jen (Junebug):
*Maasje Custom girl
*Assorted Sundries

Biz (Just Biz!):
*Blythe Bracelet sets

Abigail (Abigailsknits):
*Blythe Knit Hat

Pip (Piparroot):
Custom Rerooted Alpaca Scalp (available colors: Yellow, Green Ombre, Jet Black, Teal, Baby Pink & Grey Blue)



*indicates item has arrived

Ava's Story

Our 5 year old, Ava, is a super energetic and active girl that loves to dance around, play with her older brother and seems to never stop moving! She enjoys going to school, is really artistic and wants to be a vet when she grows up.

Ava broke her elbow playing on a trampoline with her brother. After a trip to the ER, a simple "bone set and day surgery" ended up being an extremely bad break that led to 4 hours in the operating room and a night in the hospital.

She ended up having to get three pins in her arm and has had major nerve damage to her dominant hand. She is not able to move her index finger and thumb and her wrist is also affected and doesn't want to move correctly. We have no idea if this damage will be permanent or not...only time will tell.
She has been to the doctor every week since the operation for numerous things including splint removal, casting and x-rays. And we aren't even close to being done. She will have to have more x-rays, cast and pin removal and possibly physical therapy and nerve testing.

Unfortunately homeowner's insurance is not covering the cost of the medical bills and we don't have any medical insurance. So we are looking at a huge sum of money to pay off her hospital and doctor bills, which we can not afford. Right now we have only received the hospital bills, which total about $15,000. We have yet to receive any bills from the actual doctor for the surgery and weekly visits.

Needless to say, the worry of Ava's possible permanent damage is bad enough but the additional stress of how we're going to pay these bills has left us with sleepless nights and too few options.
We are hardworking parents that love our kids. We're doing everything we can to find the money to cover these bills but we desperately need help so I will be raffling off one of my custom dolls in order to help.