The cover of this week's The Almanac features family friend Geri Whalen along with her sister, Dana Christner in the article, Sister act. A follow up Almanac story, Sisters' kidney transplant a success (Saved in Google Docs), Terri Johnson updated Geri's condition.
Geri's "super kidney" as she likes to call it, started working immediately. Please consider attending a fundraiser to be held this Thursday. The fundraiser is to help with expenses not covered by medical insurance beginning at 5 p.m. Jan. 24 at Del’s Bar and Ristorante in Bloomfield. There is a $10 cover charge with appetizers and pasta bar, organized by another sister, Jennifer LaBella. For more information on the fund raiser, call 412-860-8805. Or email me at EGillen476@aol.com and I will pass it on to the committee.
To make a contribution in Geri's honor, please click on the links in an earlier Lebo Citizens post, Local Sisters Organize Fundraiser To Help Pay For Transplant Surgery . Thank you!
Showing posts with label Geri Whalen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Geri Whalen. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Local Sisters Organize Fundraiser To Help Pay For Transplant Surgery
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/local-sisters-organize-fundraiser-to-help-pay-for-transplant-surgery/
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Sharing, that’s what sisterhood is all about. But the lifelong bond
that local sisters share will literally save a life.
“It was terrifying. It was a terrifying thing to hear,” said Geri Whalen, a kidney transplant patient.
Whalen, 33, learned six years ago that she developed kidney disease.
Although their family has no history of the disease, doctors said that a kidney and pancreas transplant are essential to her survival.
“Forty-five hundred people die a year waiting for a kidney. It can be up to 10 years,” Whalen said. “The average wait is three to five years, and most of that time people are on dialysis. They’re getting sick. They’re getting sicker.”
Without a second thought, Whalen’s big sister, Dana, stepped up to the plate and offered to give up her kidney.
“She’s been sick ever since she’s been little,” said Dana Christner.
Another hurdle – health care costs. Although Whalen has health insurance, she faces significant expenses after her surgeries are complete.
“We were all trying to think of ways to raise money and things that we can do,” said Jennifer LaBella, another sister.
So, Whalen’s sisters decided to throw a fundraiser at Del’s Restaurant to raise money. All tips and donations will go to the National Foundation for Transplants in Whalen’s honor.
“[It’s] very hard to watch her struggle,” said sister Sondra Hathaway. “There’s no reason for people to die waiting for a kidney.”
The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, beginning at 5 p.m. at Del’s Bar & Ristorante on Liberty Avenue.
For a $10 cover charge, there will be a wing and pizza appetizers, and pasta bar. There will also be a silent auction. All proceeds, tips and donations will go to NFT in Whalen’s honor.
To make a donation in Whalen’s honor, visit www.transplants.org and select Find an NFT Patient.
If you prefer to mail your contribution, donations can be sent to the NFT Pennsylvania Transplant Fund at:
5350 Poplar Avenue
Suite 430
Memphis, TN 38119
Be sure to write “in honor of Geri Whalen” in the subject line
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Sharing, that’s what sisterhood is all about. But the lifelong bond
that local sisters share will literally save a life.“It was terrifying. It was a terrifying thing to hear,” said Geri Whalen, a kidney transplant patient.
Whalen, 33, learned six years ago that she developed kidney disease.
Although their family has no history of the disease, doctors said that a kidney and pancreas transplant are essential to her survival.
“Forty-five hundred people die a year waiting for a kidney. It can be up to 10 years,” Whalen said. “The average wait is three to five years, and most of that time people are on dialysis. They’re getting sick. They’re getting sicker.”
Without a second thought, Whalen’s big sister, Dana, stepped up to the plate and offered to give up her kidney.
“She’s been sick ever since she’s been little,” said Dana Christner.
Another hurdle – health care costs. Although Whalen has health insurance, she faces significant expenses after her surgeries are complete.
“We were all trying to think of ways to raise money and things that we can do,” said Jennifer LaBella, another sister.
So, Whalen’s sisters decided to throw a fundraiser at Del’s Restaurant to raise money. All tips and donations will go to the National Foundation for Transplants in Whalen’s honor.
“[It’s] very hard to watch her struggle,” said sister Sondra Hathaway. “There’s no reason for people to die waiting for a kidney.”
The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, beginning at 5 p.m. at Del’s Bar & Ristorante on Liberty
Avenue.For a $10 cover charge, there will be a wing and pizza appetizers, and pasta bar. There will also be a silent auction. All proceeds, tips and donations will go to NFT in Whalen’s honor.
To make a donation in Whalen’s honor, visit www.transplants.org and select Find an NFT Patient.
If you prefer to mail your contribution, donations can be sent to the NFT Pennsylvania Transplant Fund
at:5350 Poplar Avenue
Suite 430
Memphis, TN 38119
Be sure to write “in honor of Geri Whalen” in the subject line
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Please help this courageous Mt. Lebanon graduate
I know that we are being bombarded from all directions for donations here in Mt. Lebanon, but this one is a personal one for me. Geri, a 1997 Mt. Lebanon graduate is my daughter's friend and needs a triple transplant. The following is a letter from her mother in law. Please give what you can.
This is my beautiful daughter-in-law Geri. She is one of a kind, I always said I couldn't have picked a better woman for my son if I tried.To donate, please visit: http://patients.transplants.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=485635&lis=1&supId=370711636&patientPID=16070
Geri got type 1 diabetes at a very young age. Her kidneys are now operating at about 18% so she is being put on the kidney, pancreas transplant list. First I ask for your prayers for her. That she has no fear and that she comes through this and everything works just the way it should! She will not be able to work for quite awhile so I am asking anyone who can to please click on the link below and make any donation you can to offset the money they will need to get through this time. I have 3 incredibly, loving, beautiful grandchildren who will be going through so much while their mom is going through this process. Not having to worry about money will make things so much easier for them. So please, open your hearts and give what you can...no matter how small.
Thanks so much in advance.
A grateful Mother-in-Law
Laurie Whalen MacCleary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)