Allow me to introduce you to Judy Hart, daughter of Steve and Mary Hart and a member of the Pioneer Ridge Middle School (PRMS) eighth grade class. Judy is creative, funny, beautiful, kind and a friend to all. She plays violin in the school orchestra, is a class ambassador, was a girl’s basketball manager and is a teaching assistant this semester. She likes school, getting her nails done and art is her favorite class. She sounds like a pretty typical teenage girl, but what makes Judy different from the rest of her classmates is that she has Cystic Fibrosis. What makes Judy even more special is that she doesn’t allow Cystic Fibrosis to define who she is.

Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease of the mucus glands that affects many body systems. It is a common genetic disease occurring in 1 out of every 2,500 to 3,500 Caucasian newborns. The disorder’s most common signs and symptoms include progressive damage to the respiratory system and chronic digestive system problems.

Judy was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis the day she was born. She has been hospitalized numerous times in her life, six in the past year, with her most recent stay being 31 days straight at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. her current list of daily medications fills an 8 ½” x 11″ sheet of paper in very small print. Most of us would be overwhelmed just looking at it, but with a shrug and a smile Judy tells me “you just get used to it.”

In April of 2010 Judy was placed on the transplant list and will eventually need a lung transplant. Knowing that the expenses associated with a lung transplant can be overwhelming; fundraising to help offset these expenses have already begun.

The PRMS Student Ambassadors, along with the leadership and guidance of teachers, Vickie Chandler, Jodi Clouse, Angela Hansen, Angela O’Kane, Ben Ryan, DeAnn Swofford and J.J. Wallace, held the most recent fundraiser on Jaguar Hill, home of PRMS. The small army of volunteers transformed stacks of fabric and bags of corn into corn sacks. They then sold the corn sacks to students, staff, friends and families.

The sacks were offered in three sizes including the very popular Jaguar Tail. because the project was so successful GEHS instructor Lindsay Posillico’s Textiles and Apparel classes have taken on sewing the sacks and then sending them back to PRMS for filling and distribution.

According to Judy’s mom Mary, “everyone at PRMS has been so incredibly wonderful and helpful!”

Like me, many of you might be wondering what a corn sack is so allow me to reproduce the tag from a corn sack for your reading.

“The Legend of the Corn Sack”

Long ago in an old Kansas farmhouse the cold nights were made warmer by a corn sack. in the morning the mother placed kernels of the golden Kansas corn under the wood stove to warm throughout the day. That night corn bags were distributed to the family and the warmed corn filled the bags. The corn sacks would warm hands, feet, or just about anything else that needed warming. If the corn sacks are under the covers they will stay warm almost the whole night. Nowadays with the convenience of the microwave oven your corn sack can be easily warmed… the corn sack can also be placed in the freezer and used as a cold pack.

The corn sack project raised approximately $1600. These donations are sent to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) in Judy’s name, and will remain there until the time comes that the funds are needed. It is estimated that Judy and her family will need approximately $60,000 for transplant related expenses in addition to costs covered by insurance.

Fundraising will continue at PRMS with the upcoming Valentine’s sucker sale “Have a Heart for Judy Hart!” Donations can be made directly to COTA in Judy’s name at: cota.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforJudyH

Everyone you ask about Judy at PRMS seems to have the same response, that she is an incredible girl with the most positive attitude. According to the Webster dictionary the definition of courage is: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty. Judy, you are the definition of courage with a twist of positive vibe added for good luck.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a 501(c)3 national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana, which is dedicated to organizing and guiding families and communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. COTA’s priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. 100% of all funds raised in honor of patients are used for transplant-related expenses.