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Kathryn's Journey for New Lungs

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Help Kathryn achieve her dream of breathing like the rest of us do.

breaths 4 kathryn

 I am Allen Norris, my wife and I have put together this campaign  for our beautiful daughter, Kathryn. Kathryn is a joy-filled 21 year old who has battled Cystic Fibrosis since birth. CF is a genetic disorder that affects not only  the lungs, but also the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestine. The disease progressively damages these organs, and long-term issues include increasing difficulty breathing, frequent lung infections that require extended hospital stays, and massive doses of antibiotics. But even with her challenges, Kathryn has been on the football dance squad for three years, a member of the Maryville College Choir, an ALANA diversity scholar, and has made the Dean’s List several times. She is also a member of a local philanthropy group, a ballroom dance assistant, weight trained the dance team, and an academic scholar in the arts and design. 

Kathryn is a brave fighter but she has now lost almost 80% of her lung function, and many of her favorite activities are now limited. A transplant is her only option. After an intensive weeklong evaluation at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, we learned that Kathryn will not only need new lungs but a liver as well.  Transplanting both these organs makes for a very complicated surgery and requires that we relocate to Durham NC. The doctors have informed us that the transplant surgery and recovery will take about a year. Kathryn will need a caregiver dedicated to her for 100% of the time, a role her mom and I will gladly take on.

Kathryn's mother and I have covered her medical expenses to date but this next step is beyond us. Relocation expenses, lost salaries and medical expenses add up fast. Money raised by this campaign will help us provide the medical care and attention that Kathryn now needs.

 We kindly ask for you to help us get new lungs for Kathryn and to give her many more tomorrows. Your support is greatly appreciated.  Please share this campaign with others.

 We don't know how strong we really are, until being STRONG is our only option!

 

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Donations 

  • Tony DeDominick
    • $50 
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Al Norris
Organizer
Maryville, TN

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