Friday, May. 23, 2008

Fishing Tournament to Benefit Transplant Recipient

By Colleen Horan

Contributing Writer

In late March, the 58 year old from Haslet received a double lung transplant. Now, as she faces a long road to recovery, family and friends are stepping up to help.

Hagerman moved to Texas from Hawaii nine years ago when her husband, Steve, became critically ill with cancer. Steve died in 2004. In late 2006, Hagerman began suffering complications from scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s tissues and caused her lungs to harden. At the time, she was living on the same property as daughter Michele Lain and her husband, Rick. She cared for her granddaughters Ally, 8, and Isabelle, 18 months, during the day.

"It’s just one of those diseases that just completely took her from living a very active lifestyle, being very involved in her community, with family and friends to the point where she basically couldn’t walk anymore," said Melanie Thornton, a close friend of Hagerman.

She was placed on a list for a transplant at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

"Things were looking really grim," Thornton said. "At the last minute, a set of lungs came in."

Thanks to an organ donor, Hagerman got her new lungs. She is currently in an intensive care unit, but Thornton said that the tracheal tube was recently removed and she is improving.

"She is bound and determined to get better and keep a clear head and get home," Thornton said, noting that Hagerman has been refusing pain medication.

She will spend several more months in the hospital and then transition to an apartment nearby for six months. After six months in San Francisco, she should be able to return home.

Although costs for the surgery were covered, Hagerman will have extensive out-of-pocket costs. A caregiver will need to be with her in San Francisco when she moves to the apartment, and follow-up care and daily medications will be costly.

"She’s always been there to help out with friends, family and so forth," Thornton said. Now Thornton is returning the favor to a friend whom she considers a sister.

With the help of the National Foundation for Transplants and other volunteers, Thornton is organizing several local fundraising events including the TuTu Charity Bass Tournament to be 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 31 at Grapevine Lake’s Meadowmere Park.

The requested donation to participate is $50 for an individual or team, and additional donations would be appreciated. The city of Grapevine will donate all entry and boat launch fees. The family-friendly event will include prizes for the winners, door prizes and an auction. Food and beverages will be available. All proceeds benefit Hagerman.

The word "tutu" is Hawaiian for grandmother and is what Hagerman’s two granddaughters call her. Granddaughter Ally Lain is getting in on the fundraising. She has been setting up a sweet tea stand called Tea for TuTu at school functions and in her neighborhood. She will be selling her tea at the fishing tournament.

"That little girl raised at least $500," Thornton said.

More fundraisers including a pancake breakfast, a garage sale and an Oscar party. For more information about any of the events or to make a donation, go to www.tutubenefit.com or www.transplants.org and click on "Patients We Help" to locate Hagerman’s page.

"Her spirit is just so alive. There’s a reason for her being here, her second chance at life," Thorton said.