By Erika Tapalla
INQUIRER.net
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — In a world where the concept of community has transcended barrios and has grown to include social networks, viral campaigns have worked to extend its reach by using the Internet.
KL Sol Cruz organized Project Savannah, a viral fund raising campaign aimed to raise some money to save “Savannah,” an unborn child who has been diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This is a condition in which the baby’s diaphragm, the organ that separates the chest cavity (containing the heart and lungs) from the abdominal cavity (containing the stomach, liver and intestines), fails to develop completely. It also involves an underdeveloped diaphragm that leaves a hole where the intestines and the stomach can enter the chest cavity, thereby affecting the development of the lungs. After birth, the lungs may collapse and the child may not be able to breathe.
Savannah must undergo a $100,000 operation, called intrauterine fetal surgery, which can only be performed in the United States.
Parents Vida and Brian Samson have approached several foundations to shoulder the cost of the procedure and are awaiting a positive response. The Philippine Airlines has already given the couple roundtrip tickets to San Francisco.
Meanwhile, Sol Cruz and a team of 13 other people have resorted to more creative ways to reach people. Through social networks Multiply and Facebook, they are gathering participants to attend “Rock the Cradle” and “Ultrasound,” to raise more funds to help cover for travel, tax and other expenses of the couple.
The advantages of Internet fund raising are many. It is quick, cheap and unobtrusive — but will it be enough to save Savannah?
2 Feedbacks on "Concert organized to save young life"
theuntechie
Have they released a list of performers?
Paolo Jose R. Cantiller
Well I just came home from Australia attended the 23rd World Youth Day at Sydney. When my Sister opened her Multiply Account, I saw a new Account that’s relevant to the Project Savannah. I called Dino Soliman about the Case of Brian and Vida Samson’s Baby, I really want to help the Couple so I ask permission to KL Sol Cruz to invite the Couple for a Prayer Meeting at my Church of the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. KL agreed and the Couple agreed too. God pushed me to Step up as a member of the Prayer Warrior Group and also the Youth Leader of the Youth. So I picked up Dino, Vida and Brian to get directions to my Church. I thought it could be hard but it’s easy for me to help the couple Spiritually. I’m very blessed to help the Project Savannah team to join the Prayer Meeting sponsored by the United Methodist Youth Fellowship and myself included. Now it is Mission Accomplished to the Lord and give back to Glory. For anything that would, I got their backs.
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