By Matt Patterson, Staff Writer • Modified: June 23, 2014 at 3:07 pm • Published: June 23, 2014
YUKON — Tia Worsham is in a fight for her life, but the Yukon teen has no shortage of people in her corner.
Worsham, 16, is currently awaiting a kidney transplant. She was diagnosed with severe chronic kidney disease and her doctors have recommended a transplant.
Yukon teen Tia Worsham is in need of a life-saving kidney transplant. Her friends and family are raising money through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. PHOTO PROVIDED –
Procedures like transplants can cost more than $500,000. To that end, Worsham’s family is raising money for her transplant through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses.
Worsham’s family and volunteers are hoping to raise about $50,000 through a series of events this summer. Worsham’s birthday is June 28 and in honor of that, her family is asking people to donate $17 to COTA in her name.
Other activities including a 5k race and restaurant night are also in the works for later this summer and into the fall.
“The response has been great so far,” said Tyler Worsham, Tia Worsham’s brother.
“We’ve had an outpouring through social media. A lot of friends and family have gotten involved. We couldn’t ask for a better start,” he said.
Tyler Worsham said his sister has one kidney that has shut down completely and another functioning at about 14 percent of its ability. “Right now, she’s not in a position where she needs one immediately,” Tyler Worsham said.
“She’s holding on and remaining stable. But the cutoff is right around 11 percent, and she’s close to that. She’s going to need one soon.”
How to help
Those wishing to help Tia can mail donations to Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 W COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN., 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA with “in Honor of Team Tia W” on the memo line of the check. Credit card donations can be made at www.cotaforteamtiaw.com.
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