I voted. Cute kids. Life is soooo unfair.

/tricia

Thanks, Tricia. I can't imagine watching two healthy children slowly become disabled. A quick vote is the least I feel like I can do.

Okay, I voted. Hope they win.

~Ann

I voted and put a pop-up on my work calendar at 6:30am. It will be the first thing I do when I sign in every morning this week!

Teresa

Love you guys!

Pam - when you say "your community"......do you live in Narberth?

Teresa

No,but very near by -- same Township. Are you familiar with the area?

I've been there several times. A good friend owns a bookstore on Haverford.

Really? I live about 10 minutes from there.

Has to be Character Development -- kids books? What a small world. Let me know if you are in town again.

They got my vote, Pam. Please keep us posted, I hope they win!

Linda

OK, I voted too, I'll remember to vote every day.

Annie

Kiss, kiss, kiss. Thank you -- and you can vote every day through this Friday!

I voted again today and talked my co-worker into voting also. It was a "vote for these kids" or I'll never buy another box of girl scout cookies again! :-)

Did you know you can earn an extra vote per day? It's right next to the place where you put your email. Click on the blue box and answer the question correctly! My question was about the steering on an electric wheelchair.

Teresa

I just saw this and voted, I hope they win !!!!
I'll vote the other days also.

Woo hoo! Wouldn't it be wonderful if they won? Thank you so much for continuing to vote.

I just discovered the extra vote box today, darn it.

Here is a note from the kids' grandmother from our community Facebook page and I know she means you guys, too:

"You are all so wonderful Thank you all for voting and caring and sharing. You are truly big time community and we feel we have that village needed to raise two handicapped children and get them a van they can fit into. Thank you for voting sharing and enduring with us for whatever happens, you are all the best!!!! Love Mary Ann"

I voted again, I'll check for that extra vote tomorrow!

Annie

The answer to the Extra Vote question today (Wednesday) is 20. Now go vote. Please?

It did not let me put in an extra vote yesterday OR today from work ........ but, I went home last night and voted there and I got a second vote PLUS the extra vote. Three votes for one day!

Yes, it looks at your IP address, so you can vote from every computer. I voted from home yesterday and also at the library, so that was four votes yesterday.

The answer to the Extra Vote question today is Yes.

They are neck and neck with a couple others for third place. The top three win vans, so every vote is very important. Please keep them coming!

Thanks, friends.

Sorry, Pam. I didn't vote yesterday. My puppy picture arrived yesterday from Australia and I was fussing with framing and forgot to vote. :( But just now, I voted and got the bonus question...so 2 votes. I've put it on my calendar so I don't forget tomorrow.

Tricia

I've been double voting :-)

Been voting with fingers crossed.

I am so thankful that my grands are healthy; I can't imagine what it's like for this family.

Done! Thanks for sharing their message and aiding the family!

Yes, it is a sad story.I do not know what has become of the mother. It is the father, Ben and Shelby and two healthy kids who live with the grandparents. They are a very nice family.

I knew I could count on you! If there are any lurkers out there who have not voted, be sure to vote right now so you can vote again tomorrow!

I got in 3 votes today and reminded my Facebook connections to vote.

Hope this helps keep the family in the running for one of the vans!

Teresa

The answer to the Extra Vote question today (Friday) is FIVE. (The number of Americans with a disability).

Last day to vote! Ben and Shelby are moving up and their chances of winning are looking pretty good, so every vote is important.

Love you guys. I'll keep you posted.

I've voted today. Got the extra ? right without the hint!

/tricia

Voted! Good luck to them.

I voted too, got the extra vote. Good luck to them, in all ways.

Annie

Voted. Hope it helps!

Thanks so much. Voting is over and they announce the semi-finalists next week. I'll report back when we know the winners. The kids ended up with 6,338 votes. Here is a picture of Shelby:

and here is Ben (with the Phillie Phanatic):

Bless their hearts!!!

I'm giving my babies an extra hug today.

Yes, sometimes we do take our good fortune for granted. I think these kids' family look on them as a blessing, which they are, but it cannot be easy. Thanks again for voting, everyone.

Hi. Well, Ben and Shelby are not among the semi-finalists. One of the contestants had more than 77,000 votes!

Although it would have been wonderful for these kids to win, everyone who entered was very much in need of a van, so whoever the final winners are, I am happy for them.

Thanks again for all you support. You're the best.

I'm sorry the kids didn't win, but let's hope this has brought the enormous need for funding for people with challenges to the forefront. As the grandmother of a young lady who is living with similar challenges, I realize the need for help from both public and private sources. Insurance just does not cover it all. Please keep in mind, any help you can give to anyone or any organization, be it a donation, a fundraiser or even to volunteer to help, is a wonderful thing.
I sincerely hope Ben and Shelby will get the van they so deserve. Mary

Mary, I learned a lot by following this contest and reading others stories. People certainly do live with enormous challenges and I wonder if I would be up to it.

Ben and Shelby are lucky to have a loving father, doting grandparents and a supportive community. All that is good, but I'm sure they could use financial help.

That's good to hear that they have family and community support, too many don't.

Well, darn, I was hoping they'd made it into the next step.

Mary, you reminded me to catch up with Rhana...

Annie