Pennies for Pennie

I am writing today to try and do whatever I can to help another family. When I share their story I hope you will see why I'm reaching out.

Let me explain my connection. Every year there is a group in Mid-Coast Maine that does a Secret Santa for a needy family. It started as a family tradition for my mother and her family. We realized we all had plenty, so instead of exchanging gifts we shopped or gave cash. On our family's Christmas Eve celebration we then wrapped the gifts together and deliver to the unsuspecting family in need.

My mother grew the tradition and formed an alliance with the South End Santas, a group of kind-hearted men and women in Rockland, Maine. We were then able to do a bigger and more helpful Christmas each year. They do everything, from tree to food to stockings for whatever family they find. Around Thanksgiving they take an informal poll and see who knows someone that is in need of their services.

This year by chance one of the secret Santas saw a donation jar at the counter of a convenience store. The family pictured was someone many of us knew, so we investigated. After hearing her story they knew they had their Christmas family.

The head of this family is Pennie Gamage, a 32 year old single mom of two. She has two children, Lucas just turned 12 and Gabriella just turned 3. She raises them without financial support from their father.

In November of 2014 Lucas had the flu which would not resolve. Fearing pneumonia, they took chest X-rays. It was discovered that Lucas had fluid surrounding his heart. He was rushed to Portland where a heart condition was diagnosed.

He initially responded well to medications, but had a major set-back this summer. He was then sent to Boston where he was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. He was started on new medications, including heparin, which they realized too late he was allergic to. It was touch and go, but Lucas survived. He had an LVAD placed and was put on the transplant list.

During this time the medical professionals urged Pennie and Gabriella to be tested to make sure there was not a genetic component to Lucas's heart issues. Gabriella was healthy, but Pennie tested positive for a separate heart condition herself. She put off necessary surgery to remove blood clots in her legs and lungs because Lucas was in such poor health in Boston.

Lucas recovered from this summer, Pennie had a successful surgery to remove the clots, and it looked like all might settle as they awaited Lucas's new heart. The Secret Santas outdid themselves this year. As the family is all on restricted but different diets hundreds of dollars of Hannaford cards were delivered (as opposed to the meal the Santas usually do). A Christmas tree was pre-paid for so Pennie and her children could complete their Christmas tradition of tree-shopping together. The presents and stockings are stuffed and ready to go. The whole family will have a Christmas to remember.

But the real gift came this week when a poor family lost an angel and Lucas was told they had a heart for him. Pennie and Lucas rushed to Boston where he went in immediately for his heart transplant. The surgery went well, and the family has had a true Christmas miracle.

Am I pulling at your heart? Here's where we come in. More bad news. The rental property the family currently occupies has mold issues. Lucas will not be medically cleared to return to that home. In the price range Pennie can afford she will not find much as rental prices in Mid-Coast Maine soar with no regard to median income or career opportunity. Lucas needs to be in Boston for 12-15 weeks and Gabriella is left behind with a grandmother and aunts. I well know the feeling of being torn between a child in Boston and the one left home in Maine. Although the Secret Santas have given them Christmas and Lucas has his new heart, this family has nothing and is looking at months of Boston living expenses and the need to find new living arrangements ASAP.

Pennie has been asked to weather such storms. The Secret Santas are extending our networks as best we can to try and help financially. We need to get the word out to try and get cash and gas cards for this family. Again, I well know how expensive running a home in Maine and a base in Boston is.

I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to give us. The Secret Santas are a tenacious group, as are Mainers in general. It seems in this season of miracles we might just be able to pull off one more.

Cassidy Keene