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‘Prayers for EB’
Gray, gold, love for little ‘EB’
Published Friday, December 4, 2009
Gray and gold ribbons have become a symbol of love and support for the little girl who is battling a brain tumor with the courage that only a child can muster
Already, more than 3,500 people are reaching out to three-year-old EB Johnson of Goshen with love, prayers and donations through the Internet.
“EB is such a wonderful and brave little girl,” said Heather Powell, who initiated a prayer chain for EB. “I got on Facebook and within the first 24 hours we had 500 people praying for EB. Friends contacted friends, and today we have more than 3,500 people who are reaching out to her in so many ways.”
Powell wanted to do something in support of EB and her family. Her first thought was to make gray ribbons, which are the American Cancer Society’s symbol for brain tumors.
She and her mom, Tammy Powell, were discussing what they might do on their way to church the Sunday after Thanksgiving. EB had undergone surgery the day after Thanksgiving, and she and her family were on the minds and in the hearts of many people in the Pike County community.
“Mama said that gold is the ACS’s symbol for childhood cancers of all kinds,” Powell said. “I thought maybe we should combine the two. So we decided to make gray and gold ribbons as a way to raise funds for EB and her family.”
The idea caught on in a hurry as more people became of aware of little EB and her fight against such a terrible enemy.
“Fraternities have contacted me wanting ribbons, and there have been requests from New York, California, Texas, Arizona, just all over the United States,” Powell said. “These people don’t know EB, but they say knowing what she is going through has touched their hearts. They are asking for ribbons and sending up prayers. There’s a lot of love out there for EB.”
Those who wish to join the hundreds of Facebook friends who are providing strength through prayer for EB and her family may go to Prayers for EB Johnson on the Facebook search box.
Pike County 4-H club members are working to fill the requests for the Ribbons for EB. The ribbons are available at the Pike County Extension Office and at Pike Liberal Arts School.
A fund has been set up at Troy Bank & Trust for those who wish to make a donation to EB and her family.
“We are also collecting soda pop tops for EB,” said Tammy Powell. “Each gallon of pop tops can be exchanged for one night at the Ronald McDonald House where EB’s parents are staying.”
Pike County 4-H’ers have donated 15 gallons of pop-tops and Haynes Ambulance, the EMS Angels Motorcycle Club and Alex Childs donated a total of 18 gallons on Thursday. Donations of pop-tops may be made at the county extension office or at PLAS.
Erin “EB” Johnson is the daughter of Marla and Troy Johnson.
Marla is a teacher at Goshen and her dad is a deputy with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.
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Comments
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 1:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Many prayers and thoughts to this brave little girl and her family.
God Bless.
Posted by merrychristmas (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Each gallon of pop tops can be exchanged for one night at the Ronald McDonald House where EB’s parents are staying.”
Will these poptops specifically provide a night's stay at the House? The answer is no. The House does ask for a $10 per night donation, but families are permitted to stay as long as needed for free. Poptops are not exchanged for goods or services.
It would be best if we focused in on giving monetary donations than this poptop thing. Don't buy the soda to get the poptop...donate the 50cents.
Let us all remember this family in prayers and then open our wallets to actually pay the requested not required $10/night donation (for 21 days then $5 thereafter).
Posted by Virtuous (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Will these poptops specifically provide a night's stay at the House? The answer is no. "
Does the Ronald McDonald House give these poptops to another source that help aid them to offer free stay for these families?
Posted by merrychristmas (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.rmhca.org/index.php?page=pop-...
Ronald McDonald House due to the running "myth" that poptops could be used in lieu of cash/insurance for medical care (ie. dialysis) created the Pop Tab Recycling Program. These tabs generate a small percentage of revenue for the RMCHs.
To be clear, as a member of this community, it is invaluable to rally around a unified effort to make ribbons and/or participate in philanthropic efforts such as this pop tab program if only just as a public display of the support this community renders to its own.
However, my opinion is that the Johnson family could benefit more from monetary donations to help with food expenses and possibly hospital charges accrued. I encourage each of us to raise more money than more tabs.
Posted by Virtuous (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, Ok. I thought you were saying the tabs didn't help in ANY WAY. From the link you provided, I see as of December 2, 2009, they have caused the House to almost reach a needed goal.
But I get what you're saying about the monetary donations helping with food and all other expenses.
Posted by omeomy (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you merry christmas for the link. I concur with you that money should be given at the designated locations to help this family in their time of need. My prayers and thoughts are with the Johnson family and EB.
Posted by everybodysfavoritelasthope (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers, my thoughts,and the strength of my faith goes out too this young child(EB). I pray that she will get the proper help she needs lord willin.
Posted by bamateach (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The poptops are a suggestion. The article also mentions that a fund has been set up for EBJ at ALL Troy Bank and Trust locations. The pop tops are another way to help. Not the only one. Monetary donations are GREATLY appreciated. Prayers are needed for this family as well! The pop tops will defer the $10 a day stay. While $10 a day doesn't sound like a lot, it adds up when they're there for days on in. And I know for a fact that the families that have stayed there in the past GREATLY appreciate the tabs and continue to collect them. May God Bless each of you!
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for all of the valuable information merrychristmas.
It surely pulls at the heart strings when a child faces things like this...not to mention what the parents are feeling. No one knows unless they have gone through something like this with their child.
My prayers continue for EB and her family.
God bless.
Posted by dawn7316 (anonymous) on December 7, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We love you lil EB and we continue to pray for you every day and every chance we get! We will continue to save our pop tops and all and we know very soon you will be able to come home and find out just how many people love you sweet girl!! It is amazing to know how many friends you have on ur facebook prayer page sweetie and to know how many people are praying for you!! Keep continuing to heal and we will continue to pray for you !!!! Troy Marla and boys we love each and every one of you too and yall are a constant thought of mine and I would just like for yall to know that my prayers are with yall too!!! We love yall and we will continue to take a knee for E.B.J
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