Big Prize Raffle Tickets Being Sold to Help Jefferson Mom, Baby Recover

Written By Jason Koestenblatt

Miles O’Donnell came into the world under some difficult circumstances. His mom, Kara, developed pre-eclampsia while seven months pregnant, suffered a stroke and needed an emergency caesarean section to save her second son.

Since the emergency occurred while the family was away from their Jefferson home in Pennsylvania, Kara’s husband, Joe, and their 5-year-old son were forced to stay in a nearby hotel for weeks while Kara was in a coma and baby Miles was in the intensive care unit.

While the journey is improving, the road ahead is long and unknown. Joe is a volunteer with the Jefferson Township Rescue Squad, and Kara a behaviorist for children. Giving to others is part of their nature.

And now the community is trying to give back.

Friends and family have created a GoFundMe site, which has already garnered more than $10,000 since early May, but a new fundraiser is on the horizon.

A raffle with four big prizes is kicking off, and tickets are now on sale.

For a $20 ticket, the first prize winner will receive four tickets to the Sept. 25 Yankees vs. Orioles game in the field MVP section 123. This is also Derek Jeter’s final regular season home game. Second prize receives two tickets to the Sept. 21 New York Giants vs. Houston Texans game in section 218. Third prize is four tickets to Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Michigan football game on Oct. 4 in section 128. And fourth prize is four tickets to see Sting’s “The Last Ship” concert on Oct. 25 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Sales are available by sending checks to Miracles for Miles & Kara, P.O. Box 493, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849. Include your full name, phone number, email and mailing address. Questions can be emailed to miracles4milesandkara@yahoo.comor by calling 203-443-0137.

The raffle drawing will be held Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Jefferson Township Rescue Squad, 827 Rt. 15 South in Lake Hopatcong. Winners do not need to be present at the time of drawing.