Someone Needs Help

Hi my name is Laurie Emerson and I have a human interest story for you. I have a friend named Jeralee Kuykendall and she is one of the nicest people that I know. She is the kind of person that would do anything for anyone even if she didn't know them. I am so blessed to have her as a friend and I would like to keep her a while longer which is why I'd like to have you print her story.

Jeralee was two years old when her parents Jack and Seanette were told that she had a very loud systolic heart mummer. She was required to see a cardiologist every two years after that. By the time she turned eight years old she was diagnosed with a possible aortic stenosis. Her family moved to Alaska that same year where they found another cardiologist who advised her parents to allow an echo cardiogram, and a cardiac cauterization. The results of the tests confirmed that she had a grade III systolic mummer and aortic stenosis which required open heart surgery immediately. It was believed that because of her young age she would require another open heart surgery by the time she would reach the age of twenty. Now at thirty one years of age, she is long over due. Her heart is now functioning at 17% and she needs open heart surgery as soon as possible. 

Jeralee is employed at Crater High School part time. Her activity and ability to work full time are extremely limited. She is in need of financial assistance due to her low income, medications and various extentions of her health needing attention before she can consider surgery. She will not be able to work for three months to a year depending on how well her recovery goes and if there are any further complications. We are reaching out to the community and asking for help. I have opened an account on her behalf at Washington Mutual bank where anyone who wishes can donate money to help her cause.

We were hopeful that most of her surgery would be covered through various programs, however, she has already been denied by Social Security Disability, Oregon Health Plan and Medicare and cannot get assistance on the dental work that needs to be done before she can have her surgery. Our hope is that we can raise the money by doing  fundraisers and that one of the dentists in our community will step up and help us in any way possible. The money that we earn through fundraisers or any of the money that is donated at Washington Mutual will be used for any medical or dental bills that she acquires and of course her monthly living expenses. If you are able to assist Jeralee in any way with dental, medical or donation, words would not express our gratitude enough.