Josie Nordman is a brave and inspiring young woman who needs new lungs.
We need to raise enough money to give them to her.
Josie was a student of mine when I taught at a summer theater program at the Goodman Theatre. I was blown away by her passion, her determination, and her bright, enduring optimism. Josie is now 19 and thriving while studying theater at Northwestern University.
She also has Cystic Fibrosis, her lung function is now down to 22%, and she needs a lung transplant. One of the many reasons I loved getting to know Josie during our summer at the Goodman is that I grew up in a family that was affected by her same disease - my little sister was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was 17 months old. CF is a progressive disease that deteriorates lung function at its own unpredictable rate. There is, as of yet, no known cure. Josie's lungs can no longer function properly, and she needs new ones.
Luckily she is now on the lung transplant list and is just awaiting the call to receive new lungs. However, the cost of this procedure is astronomical, and I am asking for our communities to help alleviate this cost for Josie's family, as they are already struggling to cover other medical expenses.
Cystic Fibrosis is a terrible disease. Thankfully patients like Josie and my sister have the bravery to fight it, and to stay positive and strong while they do so. Someday there will be a cure, but for now, I hope you will consider donating to help Josie breathe freely once again.
A Note From Josie's Mother...
My 19 year old daughter Josie has a disease called Cystic Fibrosis CF is genetic disease (www.CFF.org) that she was diagnosed with at age 4 months. As time has progressed, so has her disease. After suffering a very large loss of lung function (normal is 100%, she now has 22%) in August, she was evaluated for a lung transplant. She was placed on the lung transplant list on December 12, 2012. With end stage lung disease, a lung transplant is the only hope of living. Josie is a Sophomore at Northwestern University, majoring in theater. Up until September, she was an avid equestrian but due to loss of lung function can no longer ride. She is still attending classes at Northwestern while waiting for her transplant. She has never seen herself as the kind of girl who "just gives up" or "sits around feeling sorry for herself". She knows the call for transplant could come at any time yet she is trying to enjoy her life to the fullest while waiting. She is a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and the Northwestern Equestrian team. She is producing a play at Northwestern in the spring if all goes well and someday hopes to study abroad.
We recently found out that our portion of the cost of the lung transplant will be somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000. We were floored! We are struggling to pay our monthly bills due to so many medical costs that we have no idea how to come up with this kind of money. We need a miracle, I am hoping that the kindness of strangers will provide that.
Please help us raise the money we need to be able to pay for our portion of Josie's lung transplant and related expenses.
Help us help Josie get back to being able to attend school without carrying oxygen, act in shows without worrying about coughing or needing to sit down and help her to again "fly" on the back of the horses she loves so much.
Please contribute what you can to help Josie! NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL...Whether you have $5 to spare or $100, ANYTHING HELPS!
Note: We need to raise a lot more than the $10,000 goal listed! (The procedure will cost anywhere between $50,000 and $75,000!) So please, keep giving even if our goal is reached!
