Christy Eros Support Post-Liver Transplant (SCBP)

Dear “SCBP” community, a long-time St. Charles Borromeo parishioner and 10-years strong Faith Formation teacher is in serious need of our help.

Christine (Christy) Eros has been suffering from a life-threatening disease called Primary Biliary Cholangitis for approximately a decade. She has been anxiously waiting on the donor recipient list for a liver transplant, and finally received that call on Pentecost Sunday (June 9) morning just before church — with only a few hours to pack and make arrangements for a week in the hospital. The surgery went very well however the recovery process will be extensive at 6 months, including a great many medications and very strict eating protocol. She is now unable to work for several months.

Christy was discharged home on Friday, June 14. In her own words, this disabling event makes her and the family’s financial situation even more tenuous than before: “Now that I am on disability I am making enough for living expenses only. Tuition for the 3 kids (one in college, one starting college in the fall, one in a Catholic high school), retreats and any emergency is NOT covered. There is a ton of debt.”

Christy has been dedicated to bringing up her children deeply rooted in their Catholic faith. She has also been supporting our families with our own children, by teaching Faith Formation (aka CCD/Religious Education) at St. Charles for the last 10 years. This has coincided with her illness; there have been Sundays when she could barely come to class due to pain, exhaustion and weakness. Still, she only stayed away (allowed for substitutes) to teach her classes about twice across these many years. Christy has prayed earnestly and stepped up / showed up every week in order to share our beautiful faith with the children of St. Charles Borromeo.

At this time, the best way to support Christy and her 3 teen children is through financial support. Christy is a business owner/self-employed, which means finances will be dangerously tight as she takes the critical time to recover and make sure her body does not reject her new organ.

Christy’s meals will be handled by family for now because of extensive doctor’s guidelines and transplant recovery health factors, however gift cards to the grocery stores where they shop - Sprouts, Vons and Trader Joe’s - would be wonderful; this also provides for her children Diego, Alejandro (AKA Sasha - who plays saxophone at the 10am Mass, pictured above) and Lily... so grocery gift cards are a win for all in the household! (The teens also follow a strict and humble diet of their own, therefore feel free to hold off on meal prep for them at this time.)

On behalf of our very special and faithful parish community, thank you for taking good care of this long-time St. Charles Borromeo family in their time of great need. Please include the Eros family and especially Christy in your ongoing prayers, giving thanks for her second chance at life and petitions that her body will not reject the organ.

Feel free to contact one of the “team” with any questions, or to receive an address in order to mail out grocery gift cards. You can also hand these to Alejandro or the music leader Jon Kneier directly at the 10am Mass. Thank You and God Bless You! YOU ARE LOVED!