THUNDER BAY — Cheryl Freeborn was in tears when she accepted a cheque for more than five thousand dollars on behalf of her son Boston, who is in need of a kidney transplant.
“Quite overwhelmed, wasn't expecting the fundraiser at all, so this is a little overwhelming, emotional. (We’ve) been through a lot this year," she said Tuesday.
After hosting weekly barbecues throughout the summer, representatives from Community Living Thunder Bay presented the $5,266 cheque to Boston and his family.
Boston is battling Alport’s Syndrome, currently undergoing dialysis and awaiting a second kidney transplant after his first transplant failed earlier this year.
“Boston had a transplant on March 13th in London, Ontario, and, unfortunately, two and a half weeks later, the artery separated from his transplanted kidney, and he had a mass internal bleed and almost lost his life. They fixed that and had to remove his transplanted kidney. He ended up on dialysis after that,” Cheryl said.
Boston will be listed again for a new transplant around the end of this month, and the family will be heading back to London for a new transplant. His family will use the fundraised money to help cover their expenses while in London.
“It means the world to us. I mean, these are people that we never knew before, we knew one of the helpers from Community Living ... but having strangers in the community do this for us is really emotional and overwhelming.
“It just means so much. They always say Thunder Bay has a giant heart, and something like this truly shows that Thunder Bay has a giant heart, and we can't thank them enough. It's just amazing,” she said.
Sharon Strachan, manager of supported employment and community inclusion at Community Living Thunder Bay, said this is the organization's fifth year supporting a sick child.
“Community Living Thunder Bay is about giving back to our community. We're advocating for the family; we're also advocating here today to sign your organ donor card.
“One organ donor card can save eight lives,” she said.
Strachan thanked every person who stopped by to support the cause, and thanked Boilmakers Local 128 and Motions for their generous donations and help at the barbecues.
