Readers Unite to Aid Injured Blogger With Online Auctions
For all the talk about the Web diluting personal relationships, now comes the New York Times's moving story of a blogger's readers starting a fundraiser after a plane crash left her and her husband in critical condition.
Since last week, Stephanie Nielson, the author of motherhood blog the NieNie Dialogues, and her husband, Christian, have been in a Phoenix hospital burn unit after a private plane they were flying in crashed, leaving the pilot dead. As she recovers from burns to over 80-percent of her body and reconstructive skin grafts, many Web sites have started 350 auctions that could raise over $100,000 for the couple and their four children, who range from ages six to 23 months.
The reason for this outpouring of support is the inspirational message the NieNie Dialogues supplied to its 1,000 regular readers, a number that's risen to over 20,000 as Ms. Nielson's sister has taken over updates. The blog, originally started so Nielson could provide family updates to her large Mormon clan, is popular due to her upbeat and positive postings, which readers say are a welcome change from many other mom blogs that are rife with complaints about motherhood.
For more information on Nie Nie Day auctions, visit Design Mom, which has a listing of many of the prizes being offered. So far, prizes have included an autographed Maroon 5 guitar, Arizona Diamondbacks tickets, and all sorts of clothing, jewelry, and services from many generous donors. So, please get bidding and show that the Internet can really provide solid relationships between people who've never met. [From: The New York Times]
Since last week, Stephanie Nielson, the author of motherhood blog the NieNie Dialogues, and her husband, Christian, have been in a Phoenix hospital burn unit after a private plane they were flying in crashed, leaving the pilot dead. As she recovers from burns to over 80-percent of her body and reconstructive skin grafts, many Web sites have started 350 auctions that could raise over $100,000 for the couple and their four children, who range from ages six to 23 months.
The reason for this outpouring of support is the inspirational message the NieNie Dialogues supplied to its 1,000 regular readers, a number that's risen to over 20,000 as Ms. Nielson's sister has taken over updates. The blog, originally started so Nielson could provide family updates to her large Mormon clan, is popular due to her upbeat and positive postings, which readers say are a welcome change from many other mom blogs that are rife with complaints about motherhood.
For more information on Nie Nie Day auctions, visit Design Mom, which has a listing of many of the prizes being offered. So far, prizes have included an autographed Maroon 5 guitar, Arizona Diamondbacks tickets, and all sorts of clothing, jewelry, and services from many generous donors. So, please get bidding and show that the Internet can really provide solid relationships between people who've never met. [From: The New York Times]
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
RealityCheck said 10:12AM on 9-12-2008
Let me get this straight, there are people reaising funds for a family that has a "private plane". What in the hell has happened to Robin Hood mentality? A private plane owning family gets more financial support than all the other non private plane owning people in America, or the world, for that matter!
Reply
treylleen said 7:16AM on 9-12-2008
RealityCheck-I was thinking the exact same thing.
bygh said 8:17AM on 9-12-2008
SHAME ON ALL OF YOU...
Marcus said 9:11AM on 9-12-2008
Hey, you idiiots.....
Just because they were flying in a little private plane doesn't mean it was THEIR private plane. You can rent them for about the same as you can rent a boat at the lake. Like when you hear the term "their plane crashed" it doesn't necessarily mean they owned United Airlines....OK? Why you nutcases are so quick to criticize and look for the negative side of things, I will never know....Would sure hate to be married to you
Robin said 9:52AM on 9-12-2008
RealityCheck It didn't say it was their "private plane", it just said that it was a private plane. There for it most likely was not owed by an Airline company that we would have heard of. I live near a small airport that has "private planes" taking off all the time. It is not that my neighbors in this small town owe planes, it is just that we live a long way from a larger airport. There for we have to pay the "private plane owners" to get us to the larger cities.
RealityCheck if you can't say something nice you shouldn't be talking. Remember, the Golden Rule and live by it daily.
Michelle said 9:55AM on 9-12-2008
Reality check b4 i actually read the article i was thinking this was truly a family in need but after the firstline about the private plane i was a bit thrown as you are.It's such a shame that society is willing to help those that have rather than the have nots.
BubblesBlowing said 7:10AM on 9-12-2008
Ditto RealityCheck. It's mostly likely they were friends with someone at the paper who first reported their plight in order to gather sympathy followed by 'funds'.
Reply
lili said 10:39AM on 9-12-2008
How do we know it was THEIR "PRIVATE PLANE"? It says they were flying in "A" private plane, no?
Hughie Miller said 7:36AM on 9-12-2008
A large Mormon family, a privite plane. You may not belive this but thats not very much money now days. The story must not be written in full. Which is normnal for AOL these thays, India probably does not know what a Mormon is.
Reply
SCOTT said 7:20AM on 9-12-2008
Everyone needs help at times...but please crashing their PRIVATE PLANE!!!.. Them should have had enough insurance to handle four small childrens future...if not poor planning on their part....I guess with her blog
dialogue buddies they will milk out enough money for a easy recovery. Unlike the children of our armed services who do not get the attenion of a well to do private plane vacation going bloggers for blogged money when daddy comes back from Iraq burned and twisted from serving our counrty and not returning home from a vacation, but who said life was fair and they did have safe fly zones to vacaton in providied by the services of our
troops overseas and homeland security.
Reply
huntergirl said 10:50AM on 9-12-2008
If you read it correctly it says "a private plane they were flying in" It says nothing about it being THEIR plane.
And really?? What does her story have to do with the troops overseas? While I agree with you that the military gets the short end of the stick (especially the families supporting the one serving. I have been on both sides having served and been married to someone who also served) I don't think that needed to be brought up in converstaion when you weren't willing to really READ the story to begin with.
Regina said 11:02AM on 9-12-2008
Insurance is limited, regardless. Some have million dollar caps, pharmacy caps, pharmacy percentage copays, and many other restrictions in the fine print..Medicare has a cap, too, and if you stay in the hospital longer than 90 days, and use your lifetime days (which you never get back), and have no secondary..you are up a creek-the bill goes to you. People think they are wealthy until someone gets sick..then out-of-pocket expenses are stacked up and life turns around very quickly. I d not pass judgement on this family seeking resources--it sounds like a life time of medical bills.....
cheri said 12:06PM on 9-12-2008
I think your comment is a little harsh. You can't blame the mom and dad for what others are doing or not doing. I served in our armed forces and I think that are troops do deserve a whole lot more than what they are getting, but i think you are being unfair to these people.
skipper said 12:10PM on 9-12-2008
Scott,
There is an element of truth in what you say,
& you have a right to your divergent feelings & opinions.
Doctors weigh in who should get an organ and who is less deserving. So your comparison and anger re who's more "deserving" is not so far fetched. Your reference to Vets not eliciting the same support is shared in a recent story covering returning Vets being denied treatment and care by the country they've served...which also angers me in light of this response. Although the response to this family is heartwarming. Check out the story about the Vets in "THE NATION" by a freelance journalist: http://www.joshuakors.com/
If those bloggers think its OK to solicit our money and empathy ...they should be tolerant of soliciting unwanted thoughts and opinions that will naturally follow. Honestly, I don't know why TWO young parents with FOUR babies would thing of taking such a HUGE risk and get on a little plane (with the high % of crashes that happen in those!) Even on commercial flights, some parents fly separately to play the odds. This was ODD behavior of those young parents! And in light of the indifference faced by our returning Iraq Veterans who served our country only to receive a [double] burn...Is it any wonder such a situation would make anyone steaming mad???
When comparing the differences between each situation, of those that serve, and those that brought it on themselves...both are tragic nevertheless, and judgment and correctiveness aside, human suffering is tragic and elicits compassion and humanity (except for really EVIL people like the Hitlers and Bin Ladens of the world...every tragic consequence needs First Aid first, --whereever and whenever or from whoever will give it)
TM731RI said 12:52PM on 9-12-2008
Scott, there is no EASY recovery from burns over 80% of your body. It's a lot of suffering, pain, surgeries and rehab.
Cookie said 1:34PM on 9-12-2008
how COLD!
balackdiva said 2:06PM on 9-12-2008
you turning something positive into something negative.. goodness you just made the situation sound so bad, thats is wrong on your part. Nothing wrong with helping them out!
bitenspank said 7:26AM on 9-12-2008
RealityCheck, Not everything is about money 1st of all, 2nd if they are both in the hospital, who is making the money to support their kids? what about the hospital bills that are going to flood their way? This is a way for people to show support and love during a tragic time. Don't be jealous, if you are, I could through you from a plane and see if anyone starts a fund for you, but with your attitude, I doubt anyone will.
Reply
balackdiva said 1:59PM on 9-12-2008
i agree with you on that one! :-)
sue said 7:27AM on 9-12-2008
All of you who think that having a private plane in some way qualifies you to be a millionaire are stupid to the utmost degree. It does not matter who you are and how much money you have when a severe tragedy strikes. Children need help when their parents are gone or incapacitated. Its an accident,a tradgedy you stupid people. I am glad you are not my friend you morons.
Reply