Before becoming ill, Darlene worked in the hospitality industry in various positions of service. In spite of her condition, she still loves to serve and help others as best she can, encouraging others around her to keep positive and hope for the best. For the past 19 years she has been an active member at Smoking for Jesus Ministry, where she is on the Praise Team and serves as a Sunday school teacher in the children’s ministry. Her compassion is to serve and encourage others to trust God. After many years of helping others, Darlene is now the one who needs our help.

While Darlene waits for her transplant at St. David’s Medical Center in Texas, her out-of-pocket medical expenses are increasing. Co-pays and deductibles, clinic visits and doctor’s appointments, health insurance premiums, medical bills and living expenses continue to add up. Darlene will also require lodging and transportation fees, caregiver expenses, and post-transplant medications to halt rejection once she is transplanted. These medications are very expensive, and even with Medicare coverage, Darlene is facing more than $20,000 in out-of-pocket transplant and related expenses.

To help with the financial burden of Darlene’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with HelpHopeLive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, and are held by HelpHopeLive in the South-Central Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHopeLive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution. Darlene has chosen to fundraise with HelpHopeLive in part because HelpHopeLive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the yellow Donate Now button. For more information, please contact HelpHopeLive at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and generosity. Your support is critical to the overall success of Darlene’s campaign. On behalf of Darlene and her family, may God bless you for your kindness and support you are showing to her through giving!

Gratefully,

Julie Tumblin, longtime family friend, (504)251-4744, wtout@juno.com