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Bunko tournament, auction to benefit transplant recipient Chris Robinson |
| Cleveland, Miss., Nov. 2, 2009 –Chris Robinson, 27, needed a double-lung transplant to survive. After a long wait, he received the costly transplant Sept. 17. Friends and family are planning a bunko fundraiser to help offset his expenses. |
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| Publish Date: 06:24PM 11/03/09 |
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Cleveland, Miss., Nov. 2, 2009 –Chris Robinson, 27, needed a double-lung transplant to survive. After a long wait, he received the costly transplant Sept. 17. Friends and family are planning a bunko fundraiser to help offset his expenses.
Robinson was diagnosed in 2001 with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease of unknown cause that attacks the organs. There is no cure, and Robinson has suffered from chronic fatigue, aching and shortness of breath. The Prednisone used to control his symptoms caused him to suffer from osteoporosis. At the time of his transplant, his lungs functioned at only 20 percent, and his health was quickly declining.
The average double-lung transplant costs approximately $650,000. Even with health coverage, Robinson faces long-term medical expenses related to the transplant. He will require a lifetime of follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications to remain healthy. These medications are very expensive and could cost as much as $5,000 a month.
Because his transplant took place at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, more than 300 miles from his home in Sardis, Robinson also will incur travel and temporary housing expenses as he goes through treatment and recovery.
Robinson’s health limits his ability to work, adding to his financial strain. He and his wife, Christina, struggle to make ends meet with his ongoing medical expenses.
To help alleviate some of the financial burden, Robinson turned to the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) for assistance. NFT is a nonprofit organization that helps patients raise funds for transplant-related expenses.
“We’re thrilled Chris received his lung transplant,” said Carrie Berry, NFT fundraising consultant. “Sadly, the expenses for the transplant are just the beginning. Many patients receive this precious gift of life but end up rejecting the organ because they can’t afford their medications. At NFT, we’re helping Chris raise funds so he can fully enjoy his new life.”
Volunteers are planning a bunko tournament and silent auction Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. at Garden Club Clubhouse at 5th and Maple. Admission is $20 in advance and $30 for walk-in registrations and includes refreshments. Participants can bid on items in the auction between rounds, including jewelry, gift certificates, hand-made quilts and more.
For tickets or more information, please contact Lacey Fitts at thefitts@gmail.com or 662-721-0093.
To make donations in honor of Robinson, please visit www.transplants.org and click on “patients we help” to search for him. If you prefer to mail your contribution, please send your gift to the NFT Mississippi Lung Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Be sure to write “in honor of Chris Robinson” in the subject line.
About NFT
NFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Memphis, Tenn. that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. NFT provides fundraising expertise and advocacy to transplant patients by organizing fundraising campaigns in the patients’ own communities. In the past 26 years, NFT’s fundraising campaigns have generated nearly $56 million to assist patients.
NFT currently assists more than 1,000 transplant candidates and recipients nationwide. For more information about NFT, please call 800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org.
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