My name is Peggy Gerner, and I am raising funds for my daughter, Torie Westra. Torie is 37 years old and has lived with type 1 diabetes for 26 years. Throughout her life, she has faced brittle diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, and severe dental issues. In 2020, her kidney function dropped to just 13%, and she was diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease—kidney failure. This meant her kidneys could no longer filter her blood effectively, and she had to begin dialysis three times a week, each session lasting nearly four hours. The treatments left her too weak to continue her work as a CNA, and her health continued to decline.

In October 2023, Torie’s health worsened, and she was moved to the top of the transplant list. Thankfully, she received a life-saving double transplant—both a kidney and a pancreas—from a loving donor family. While this was a second chance at life, the journey to recovery has been filled with challenges. Torie has struggled with the side effects of anti-rejection medications, which she will need for the rest of her life. Years of dialysis have left her bones weak, causing her to lose many teeth. Dentists have told us that her teeth will continue to fall out, and she will need implanted dentures to eat and regain her confidence. She is only able to eat soft foods and lives with daily pain. Ongoing medical issues, including frequent blood draws for polycythaemia, make her extremely tired and slow her recovery.

We are raising funds to help cover Torie’s lifelong anti-rejection medications (some of which are not fully covered by Medicare), frequent follow-up care, and urgent dental work for implanted dentures. The cost of dental implants alone is overwhelming, and we simply cannot afford it on our own. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a direct impact on Torie’s recovery and quality of life. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page or sending prayers and encouragement means the world to us. Your support will help Torie regain her health, confidence, and hope for the future. Thank you for being part of our village. With love and gratitude, Mom Peggy Gerner, Father Joe Westra, Brother Joshua Westra.