Leamington woman with Cystic Fibrosis

Updated post:
My name is Jennifer Harris. Some people call me Jennee, some call me Lola, and others call me just Jenn. Whatever you call me, I am human , I am dying and I need your help.

I am 37, soon to be 38 years old and I have cystic fibrosis. CF is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. There is no cure.

My only chance of not dying is to receive a double lung transplant in Toronto, ON. I live 4.5 hours away from Toronto. I need to move to Toronto to be near Toronto General Hospital where I can get a double lung transplant when a donor is found. Thankfully the Toronto transplant team is one of the best IN THE WORLD! I will be in good hands.

I will have to attend physio and appointments and do testing at the hospital 3 times a week while I am waiting for the transplant. When I receive “the call” I need to get to the hospital as soon as possible and I will have to stay there for a minimum of 2 weeks, if everything goes well, and if not, I will then have to stay months. After I am released I will STILL have to visit the hospital daily, weekly and then monthly. This means I will have to live in Toronto before and after surgery for an estimated 6 months – to 1 ½ years.

This is where you come in. I cannot afford to move to Toronto. My only other choice is to DRIVE to Toronto, 3 times a week and we all know what the price of gas is right now.

My monthly expenses in Toronto will be anywhere from $2500 to $3000. A MONTH.

As of September 2018, Toronto’s average rent is THE HIGHEST in Canada. At the same time, I need to be able to keep my home, here in Leamington because if I can’t keep my house, I will have nothing to come back to, after I am healed.

I have no family at all. I have no siblings, or children who can help me with rent, a place to stay, a vehicle, transportation, storage... None of that. I am a “lone soldier” asking the world to help me.

I have no savings, I have no possibility of a bank loan, grant or other option. I am on a limited income because of my CF as it is.
I am looking to you, the public, to help me not die. I am not a murderer on death row. I should not have to die. I do not want to die. Please help me not die by donating ANY amount.

If I cannot get the money to move to Toronto and live there, I am not sure what will happen. I do not want to think about it really. I am already on oxygen on my bad days. The bad days are starting to be more often and last longer. My lungs are failing. I am past the median life expectancy of 32. Even newborns that are born today with cystic fibrosis are expected to live to only 40 years old. I will be 38 on June 1. Think about that for my sake.

I am a very strong believer in Karma. I have seen karma work its cycle. If you help me, someone will help you when you need it. This is a HUGE deal to me. Even $1 or $5 will bring me that much closer to a new life and you will be able to feel good about yourself because you helped save a life.

So many people have helped me already since March of this year. I am overwhelmed by the generosity and love of people. That is people I have never met and people I do know. I never in my wildest dreams thought that so many people would help me as they already have. I will never be able feel like I have done enough to balance the karma scale. BUT... I will try and I will keep trying.

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my lungs, and heart.


Original post:
Jennee has Cystic Fibrosis and is in desperate need of a double lung transplant (she must move to Toronto). She has no money to contribute as she is on disability.  Living on limited funds, she is literally scared for her life.  Without your help, she will not make it.  She will not have the opportunity to get to Toronto. She must be in Toronto in order to be accepted for a transplant. Please consider donating and reaching out to those that you think can help.  Without the help from others, she will 100% not be able to get the transplant.  Without the transplant, she will not survive this Cystic Fibrosis battle.