GoFundMe account for Nina Pham RN

Nurses COVID

Published

FYI

I went to the latest news on Nina to see how she is doing and clicked on a page that took me to a Facebook community page titled Help Nina Pham. There was a link to GoFundMe by Christine Sweeney. I donated some $ and backed out of the site.

I then went to the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital website and clicked on a GoFundMe link by a friend of hers named Sarah Strittmatter.

Does anyone know if both of these are legitimate?

I hope so because if they aren't someone is scamming. BEWARE!!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
With all the scams going on and even "legitimate" charities scooping up a percentage much higher than any expected "maintenance fee", it's my inclination to write the woman a check and send it to her attention at the hospital. Direct charity is the best.

Hence a dedicated bank account in custody of the bank to hold the funds until she's well enough to access them (or in worst case scenario her estate). Many banks offer this at no charge for scenarios such as this. Plus cash or gift cards enable her to buy what she wants/needs/ likes vs. random item donations of unneccary items.

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With all the scams going on and even "legitimate" charities scooping up a percentage much higher than any expected "maintenance fee", it's my inclination to write the woman a check and send it to her attention at the hospital. Direct charity is the best.

Yes. And this is precisely what I've done. After spending an unhealthy amount of time reading about mismanagement, fraud, and even the large amounts that the recipient never receives (admin fee/misc fee) - I feel this is the best option.

Besides, she may want to say thanks one day. And I feel it would be an honor to say your welcome.

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She will, most likely, as with Amber and all ready Brianna aka "whistleblower," have lawyers knocking on their doors and get huge settlements. The whistleblower has the country's top malpractice lawyer representing her, so I am sure she has no worries. Same with Nina and Amber, there was negligence on the hospital and the CDC, plus the CDC said derogatory things about Nina, so they will be, most likely, set.

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Well, an UPDATE----

I'm having trouble with my email and I can see the titles of my emails but can't open the content. :mad:

So I can see that I got a refund from the GoFundMe account on Facebook by Christine Sweeney but I don't know the details of WHY.

I know that there has been at least $ 80,000 collected( last I checked) in the account set up by Sarah Strittmatter.

To comment on some of the posts I say...

Most of her stuff has probably been trashed.

Even her dog's boarding bills will need to be paid for.

It takes YEARS for lawsuits to be settled.

RNSue

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I think I read that the city was covering the cost of the dog's care. I agree it's nice to donate and help her out, but I'm not going to trust any random gofundme site. If there is a legit bank account set up for her, I'll be happy to contribute. Same goes for Amber.

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There is also a gofundme page for Amber Vinson as well; which was started by a long time family friend.

Amber Joy Vinson Fund by Terri Clark - GoFundMe

CNN has a video of Amber's apartment, seems she will need to replace a lot of items same as Nina Pham.

A look inside Ebola patient Amber Vinson's apartment - CNN.com Video

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.

It seems that Nina's go fund me account has taken in 89K, but Amber's only gotten 13K. Hmmm...

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.
There is also a gofundme page for Amber Vinson as well; which was started by a long time family friend.

Amber Joy Vinson Fund by Terri Clark - GoFundMe

CNN has a video of Amber's apartment, seems she will need to replace a lot of items same as Nina Pham.

A look inside Ebola patient Amber Vinson's apartment - CNN.com Video

They took the carpet and food but left the mattresses... Weird

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
They took the carpet and food but left the mattresses... Weird

Agreed. Sounds like a panic clear out rather than logic, organized and EBP based.

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Dear RNsue,

My name is Matt i am the husband, Christine is my wife and i assure you that her efforts were pure, honest , and meant to do good for someone who could not do for themselves, considering the situation. Like you and so many others when we heard the news we wanted to do something to help, so looking for a way to offer support we found none and were disappointed that nothing had been set up for her. So we decided to take it upon ourselves to start something to support her as she go thru this scary ordeal, this was our part of doing something when no one else had done anything and this was 4 days later so she did what she hoped someone, anyone would step up and do for her if she was in that situation.

I also thought about the first victim Mr. Duncan, it seemed that no one really cared (the general public that is), in his case and it should not matter if he lied or not it was a life to save. I still think that we have not heard BOTH sides to that story considering the lies on the part of the hospital and the misinformation from the CDC about these two nurses.

I am the kind of person that will pull over if i see a stranger on the street in need. I can't tell you how many times I seen a black person stranded on the road with a simple flat tire and no one pulls over so i make it my business to do so because I know that no one else will. Am i to be criticized because i don't know the person I'm pulling over for to offer help?

As for my wife here in phoenix, she is one of those people that will go to buy as many pizza's that she can afford and deliver them to the homeless on the street. I have helped her deliver full home cooked meals from the trunk of her car to feed the homeless in down town phoenix, and deliver gifts she bought from the store with her own money to hand out to homeless strangers that she don't know and never seen before. So to do this for Nina Pham was no different. My wife doesn't know these homeless people, but that has never stopped her before, so hearing all this "scam" talk was very upsetting.

As i said when she started this, there were no others doing anything and later there was no effort to and without contacting us to work together for the same cause. We were made to feel like frauds and that we were running a scam even thou we directed Gofundme to turn over all the funds from our account to the one posted on CNN. By this time, due to all of the complaints and harassment, GFM decided to refund all of the donations she had received up to that point. GFM emailed her and explained although she had set the fund up first, too many people were suspicious of the fact that my wife was not related to nina nor was she friends with her in any way.

We also continued to promote that site from the facebook page. Every effort was made to be as transparent as possible which is the reason she posted her real name and contact info for those that questioned her integrity . Also stating that the full amount of the money was going to Nina or her family, even on our local news station, in an effort to clear her name. I ask, what person trying to scam others, goes on local TV and agrees to questioning regarding peoples accusations if they're guilty? No one i know.

i can't tell you how eye opening this was but also satisfying to help someone even 900 miles away that you have never met and don't need to. THANK YOU is enough, and we got that from the Vinson Family.

This is the whole story and i hope this assures you that your money went to whom you wanted it to. Thank you for having the heart to give as you did and help in a situation where there is a clear need. Imagine you get sick go the the hospital and when released come home to all of your life possessions are destroyed, GFM was meant to soften that blow. I thank you for giving the benefit of the doubt

Matt

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There is also a gofundme page for Amber Vinson as well; which was started by a long time family friend.

Amber Joy Vinson Fund by Terri Clark - GoFundMe

CNN has a video of Amber's apartment, seems she will need to replace a lot of items same as Nina Pham.

A look inside Ebola patient Amber Vinson's apartment - CNN.com Video

Unbelievable!

Did she even have any symptoms when she was in the apartment?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Per our terms of service, we don't allow solicitation and we strongly encourage our posters who want to donate; to thoroughly investigate the organizations for legitimacy.

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