Our dear friend, wife, mother, and grandmother, Cheryle Mauro, is in the fight of her life. Cheryle is 67 years old and has been married to her loving husband, Tom, for 47 years. Together they have raised three wonderful children—Nicole, Anthony, and Tommy—and she is the proud grandmother of four beautiful grandchildren: Dominic (12), Daxton (9), Kennedy Joe (6), and Presley (4). Her siblings, Donna, Marcy, and Jon, have been a constant source of love and support throughout her journey. Family has always been Cheryle’s greatest joy, and it is for them that she continues to fight so courageously.

In March 2021, Cheryle was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a disease that causes scarring in the lungs and slowly robs a person of the ability to breathe. Though the symptoms began gradually, the last year has brought a much sharper decline. Tasks as simple as folding laundry or walking across the room now leave her struggling for air. Despite medication—which costs $16,000 a month and was thankfully covered while Tom was working—IPF has continued to progress. Today, her only chance for survival is a lung transplant.

After evaluations at three hospitals, Cheryle has been accepted for transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where she will need to relocate for at least three months before and after her surgery. While this offers hope, it also comes with tremendous financial burdens, including:

• Housing near the Mayo Clinic while maintaining their home in Crystal Lake

• Pre- and post-transplant care and rehabilitation

• Medications, insurance co-pays, and deductibles

• Travel and transportation costs

• Lost wages from Tom’s part-time job, as he will be her primary caregiver

• Support from family and friends who must rotate as daily caregivers (two are required each day)

This fundraiser has been created to help relieve these overwhelming expenses and to give Cheryle the best possible chance at recovery. More than anything, it is about giving her more time—more birthdays, more graduations, more holidays, and more everyday moments with the people she loves most.

We are deeply grateful for any support you can provide. Whether it’s a donation, sharing this page, or simply keeping Cheryle in your prayers, your kindness means more than words can say.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Cheryle as she takes this next step toward healing and toward many more precious moments with her family.