![Main fundraiser photo](https://images.gofundme.com/C3xnyXKmXrqbKofKAri-EHk_XVY=/720x405/https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/2560510_1415716759.6475.jpg)
A Mothers Love, Lungs for Kate
Donation protected
Let's circle around Val and her family, who need our support as they journey through Kate's lung transplant and the pending medical expenses.
Valerie Heffernan-Snelling is one of the strongest woman I know. I met Val as a fresh graduate from nursing school. My first impression/thought was "I want to be like her. I want to nurse the way she does. I'm going to learn from this woman." Val as a nurse, well, she just shines. She is compassionate, loving, and fully present in the moment with her residents. In school I was told to find mentors, nurses that will guide and teach me. Val was that person for me. Little did I know, through the years, she would mentor me on many more levels than nursing. I have learned so much from this woman. Val has taught me as a parent how to be strong, to never give up, when to let go, patience, gratitude, determination, and grace. For those of you that do not know Val's story; Val is the mother of two amazing girls with Cystic Fibrosis. Val has brought these girls up, to live life to the fullest. Never letting CF hold them back. CF is a life threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. The life expectancy of someone with this disease is between 30 and 40 years of age. With new research, those statistics are changing. Historically children born with CF died as infants in the 1980's; the medium survival was 20 years of age. New research has provided more treatment options; the fight against CF, the fight for life is growing. Val's youngest daughter Kate has made the courageous decision to fight for life and is in the process of being put on a lung transplant list. Kate was living in England studying to be a veterinarian when her CF started acting up. She was flown home. This past year has not been easy for this family. In and out of the hospital, trips to Boston to meet with a transplant team- eventually they will get that call. They will then need to stay in Boston for an extended period as Kate recovers. This will entail a leave of absence from work for Val and finding housing out of state. That is where we can come in and help relieve the stress of this journey. Val has so much to think about right now. I know many of us have wanted to help. This is a life saving journey! If we all pitch in, we can bear some of the load for this amazing courageous girl, for this mother, for this family. This is a secure site for you to donate, every little bit will help. Whether it is a one time donation, or maybe a weekly small donation on payday, every little bit will help.
A personal note from me, my father whom I loved and respected so very much, who taught me so much, his final lesson to me as he was at death's doors - " Janice live your life, what ever you do, live your life." Life is so very precious, and we often take it for granted. Kate is not. She has made a choice to live. Something we all can learn from.
Valerie Heffernan-Snelling is one of the strongest woman I know. I met Val as a fresh graduate from nursing school. My first impression/thought was "I want to be like her. I want to nurse the way she does. I'm going to learn from this woman." Val as a nurse, well, she just shines. She is compassionate, loving, and fully present in the moment with her residents. In school I was told to find mentors, nurses that will guide and teach me. Val was that person for me. Little did I know, through the years, she would mentor me on many more levels than nursing. I have learned so much from this woman. Val has taught me as a parent how to be strong, to never give up, when to let go, patience, gratitude, determination, and grace. For those of you that do not know Val's story; Val is the mother of two amazing girls with Cystic Fibrosis. Val has brought these girls up, to live life to the fullest. Never letting CF hold them back. CF is a life threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. The life expectancy of someone with this disease is between 30 and 40 years of age. With new research, those statistics are changing. Historically children born with CF died as infants in the 1980's; the medium survival was 20 years of age. New research has provided more treatment options; the fight against CF, the fight for life is growing. Val's youngest daughter Kate has made the courageous decision to fight for life and is in the process of being put on a lung transplant list. Kate was living in England studying to be a veterinarian when her CF started acting up. She was flown home. This past year has not been easy for this family. In and out of the hospital, trips to Boston to meet with a transplant team- eventually they will get that call. They will then need to stay in Boston for an extended period as Kate recovers. This will entail a leave of absence from work for Val and finding housing out of state. That is where we can come in and help relieve the stress of this journey. Val has so much to think about right now. I know many of us have wanted to help. This is a life saving journey! If we all pitch in, we can bear some of the load for this amazing courageous girl, for this mother, for this family. This is a secure site for you to donate, every little bit will help. Whether it is a one time donation, or maybe a weekly small donation on payday, every little bit will help.
A personal note from me, my father whom I loved and respected so very much, who taught me so much, his final lesson to me as he was at death's doors - " Janice live your life, what ever you do, live your life." Life is so very precious, and we often take it for granted. Kate is not. She has made a choice to live. Something we all can learn from.
Organizer
Janice Lawrence
Organizer
Milton, VT