Alicia Lang with her parents Jim and Mary Kay Lang and her brother Nick at a fundraiser in January of 2011 at Lakota West High School. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) is trying to raise money for a local cystic fibrosis patient, who is currently on waiting lists for a double-lung transplant.
Lakota West grad Alicia Lang, 20, was five years old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Semiyearly visits to the hospital continued until her freshman year at Lakota West when the oxygen level in her lungs started falling.
The lower oxygen levels caused Lang to miss more school and make more trips to the doctor’s office, where she was eventually told she needed a double-lung transplant.
Lang was been on multiple waiting lists for the transplant since January of 2011. According to NFT, a double-lung transplant costs $800,000.
There will be other expenses related to the transplant. Lang will also need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications, according to the NFT.
“It breaks my heart to see someone so young and vibrant battling such a debilitating illness,” said Claire Prince, NFT fundraising consultant, “I hate that Alicia’s family has the added stress of mounting medical bills. At NFT, we’re dedicated to helping them fundraise so they can concentrate on Alicia’s health, not the expenses.”
To help raise funds, NFT volunteers are planning “Zumba for Alicia” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Dare to Dance, 11256 Cornell Park Dr. in Blue Ash, July 21.
The cost to dance is $15. Children more than 10 years old can participate with an adult present. Door prizes will include an hour with a personal trainer and a hair and make-up session with a cosmetologist. Refreshments will be available for all participants and vendors selling jewelry, make-up and other items will be attendance.
For tickets or more information, please contact Dare to Dance at 513-407-8633, Richele Nold at richele@drdcincinnati.com or Judy Ebbing at 513-460-7479 or aliciaslungs@gmail.com.
To make a donation in honor of Lang, please mail a tax-deductible gift to the NFT Ohio Transplant Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write “in honor of Alicia Lang” in the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at www.transplants.org. Donors should click on “Find an NFT Patient” to locate Lang.
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