My Real Life

Today I’m taking a break from the funny, the kids, my life to ask you to think about helping to save the life of another.

I used to babysit for a sweet girl named Kerry O’Connor.

She and her family lived across the street from me when I was growing up and I would occasionally babysit for Kerry and her two older brothers.

Sweet girl, fun girl, nice girl, smart girl.

In her mother’s words:

After 27 years as an insulin dependent diabetic, she is suffering from one of the most life-threatening complications of the disease, hypoglycemic unawareness.  In non-medical terms, this means that the disease has progressed to the point that her body does not register the fact that her blood sugar levels are dropping.  While she has experienced other complications as well, most notably loss of vision in her left eye and severe gastroparesis (nerve damage to her digestive tract), the hypoglycemia has forced her to give up many of the things in her life that she loves.  She can no longer work as a nurse or even be left alone.  At times, just ordinary tasks, such as folding laundry, can cause her blood sugars to plummet.

Kerry needs a pancreas transplant.

Kerry has been listed as an active pancreas transplant candidate at the university of Minnesota Medical Center, one of the few places that performs “pancreas only” transplants.  In addition, it is well equipped to handle the range of Kerry’s medical complications that add to the difficulty of this surgery.  The down side to this choice is the distance and length of stay that will be required in both the pre- and post-transplant phases.  This is where your support though the raffle comes in.  While Kerry and her husband, Bill, have good medical coverage, it does not cover all of the expenses for Kerry’s immunosuppressant medications, transportation or lodging that she will need during the first post-transplant year.

So, those who love Kerry have begun to do some fundraising to help Kerry meet all of the costs that she will face during this critical time.

If you feel as though you might be able to give a small amount, please visit this website that was created by Kerry’s mother, a retired high school teacher from my alma mater.  Donations are given to HelpHOPELive, a non-profit organization that assists the transplant community.  All information can be found at the site.

As a diabetic and someone with a history with Kerry and her family, this cause is so dear to my heart.

If you can help, thank you.  Even if you can’t, send some good, strong, positive, healing thoughts Kerry’s way.

It is all appreciated.