Video: Fundraiser Helps Friend Breathe Easier

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GORDO, Alabama (WCBI) — Residents say the town of Gordo is a small town community, where everybody knows everyone.

That small town is doing something bigger than themselves.

22 year old Libby Hankin is from small town Gordo, Alabama. She also attends the University of West Alabama and is studying to become a Special Education teachers.

She was also diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was two years old.

“She’s funny, she’s very determined, she’s a little bit sassy at time, but in a sweet way…”, said her mother, Susan Estes over the phone in Durham, North Carolina, “…she would do anything to help someone out. She’s very tender-hearted…”

“She’s always had the attitude that she’s going to push through it whatever it was.”

Estes was calling from Durham because that is where her and her daughter have been staying for the past 65 days.  The reason?

Libby needed a double lung transplant from Duke University Medical Center, and she was considered high risk.

Estes said her daughter was denied a transplant in Alabama due to the severity of her condition, and that when they arrived in Durham, it was a “third time’s a charm” scenario.

The first call came on Easter Sunday, but the lungs weren’t a match.  The family received a second call a week or so later, but to no avail.

Then, on April 17th, the doctors gave the go-ahead for Libby’s life saving transplant.

“Even the weekend she got the lungs, that if it didn’t come soon, that she just did not think she could make it anymore…”, explained an emotional Estes, “…that she wanted to be at peace…and that she was getting tired, and she wanted us to be alright…that she had fought for about as long as she was able to fight.”

Libby’s transplant was successful, and Estes says she’s “sore” but doing okay.

Estes said her daughter was breathing on her own and off of the ventilator twelve hours after the surgery.  Estes said Libby will remain in the hospital for the next ten weeks, and will continue pulmonary rehab afterwards for a couple of months.  Estes estimates they’ll be in Durham for the next six months.

Libby’s next-door-neighbor and best friend Laurel Campbell has been supporting her from the beginning.

“She’s just always kind of looked up to me like a big sister…”, said Campbell, “…the older we’ve gotten, the closer we’ve gotten, and she’s become one of my best friends…”

That is why Campbell took on the role as the Community Coordinator for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) fundraiser #LungsForLibby.

“The one thing I could do being stuck here in Alabama and them being all the way in North Carolina…”, said Campbell,  “…I just took it upon myself when they asked that they needed someone to take this role on and that’s what I decideed I could do here.”

COTA is an organization that works to ensure tax-exempt fundraising for children who have organ donations or adults with very specific organ donations.  It helps prevent families from paying taxes on the money that is raised during fundraising.

“Most transplants exceed $500,000 in expenses that aren’t covered under insurance and certain things…”, said Campbell, “…so our goal was to just do everything we could to alleviate that completely so [her parents] could focus on Libby and her recovery and getting her back home.”

Campbell said the first fundraising event held in Gordo at her and Libby’s church, Elmore Center United Methodist Church, brought 75 volunteers willing to be trained, and Campbell said a COTA representative said it was the “most volunteers they’ve ever trained.”

The #LungsForLibby campaign began with the goal of $50,000, and as of the minute I am writing this article, $52,552 has been raised for Libby and her family.

Campbell said donations have come from people all over the country, including people who have been affected by CF or a children affected.

Estes says when she shows her daughter the response of people of social media and the donations, “…she’ll say ‘mama, how does that happen? How did all this happen?’ And I don’t know how this happened, I jsut think maybe…people are good, and when they saw an opportunity to do something good, they did it, and they were part of something good.”

Estes also said Libby says, “when this is over, and I feel better, I’m going to do something to pay it back.”

When asked what’s next for Libby, her mother said, “…she says I’m going back to school. I’m going back to UWA and I’m going to finish what I started…”

Hankins only has one semester left before graduating.

Estes also hopes her daughter’s story can help raise awareness for organ donation.  Estes said Libby is “very aware of what it took” to receive the lungs.

“We’ll never be able to repay them, but we want them to see where those lungs are, and that she’s going to great things with them.”

Estes also said Libby plans on writing a letter to the family of the person who donated their organs to her and that they hope to one day meet the family who’s loved one saved her life.

The city of Columbus also donated a booth to the fundraiser for Market Fest coming up May 6th and the 7th, where visitors can buy shirts and bracelets to donate money to the #LungsForLibby campaign.

To donate to Libby and her family, go to http://www.cotaforlibbyh.com/

You can also follow Libby and her journey on the Lungs For Libby group on Facebook.

Estes also explained the story of children with cystic fibrosis not being able to say it, so they’re taught to say “65 roses”.  And if fate has anything to say about it, Libby received her lungs on the 65th day in Durham.