Local Teen Fights For Transplant
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: June 4, 2009
Sixteen-Year-Old Jorge Gonzalez is running out of time for a kidney transplant. A year ago doctors in Indianapolis told him he needed a kidney transplant and that he could survive on dialysis for about a year. Since then he has struggled to raise money for the transplant.
Jorge recently graduated from Miami Middle School. He will start high school at Southside in the fall. Jorge needs to raise $100K for the transplant. So far he has raised about half of the money needed with help from the community.
Jorges mother and father have both agreed to donate a kidney. However, Jorge must have at least $80K raised before he can begin the initial stages of preparing for a transplant. Currently, Jorge undergoes dialysis four times a day.
Jorge and his mother approached Fort Waynes new Hispanic-Immigrant Liaison for help. It is just one of the many ways the community is supporting Jorge and his family.
A fundraiser to help Jorge and his family is planned for June 20th. Latino Fest will be held at Foster Park from 10 am to 8 pm. Proceeds from the festival will benefit Jorge. The festival is also celebrating the fifteen-year anniversary of El Mexicano. Jorge hopes the festival will bring him significantly closer to his $100K goal.
