Reported by Frances Weller – bio |email
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – there was a star-studded celebration in downtown Wilmington Wednesday night in honor of a woman in need of a kidney.
Cast members of One Tree Hill came out to support a fundraiser for Amy Moore. the event was held at the River Room on Water Street. Over 200 people were in attendance.
Amy Moore has battled kidney failure for over a decade. when she was 16 years old she developed flu-like symptoms that sent her to the emergency room. Doctors told Amy blood had built up in her lungs and her kidneys were shutting down.
The 16-year-old was airlifted to a different hospital where she was diagnosed with a condition called Good Pasture Syndrome, which is a condition that attacks your organs. In Amy's case, it attacked her kidneys and lungs.
“My lungs are fine now but my kidneys are shot,” Amy said.
After three years of dialysis, Amy, who is now 29, had a kidney transplant in 2000. Kidneys, however, that are donated from people who aren't related to you are only good for about ten years.
Dr. James McCabe of Southeastern Nephrology is Amy's doctor. He says the transplants last longer when the organ comes from a blood relative.
“If you can get a kidney from a family member like a brother or sister, they can last 20 years—30 years,” McCabe said.
Amy is now on a national registry list of people who need a transplant. She's ready once a match is found, but donated organs come with a hefty price tag.
A kidney transplant alone can cost up to $100,000 in addition to the $10-15 thousand worth of medications to go with it.
While Amy works for the state and has insurance, it doesn't begin to cover all of the medical costs. That's why her friends hosted a fundraiser for her Wednesday night. the One Tree Hill cast provided auction items. At the end of the night, the event raised over $8,000.
If you were not able to attend the fundraiser but would like to help, visit ntafund.org. on the page, fill in Amy Moore's name in the patient section in the top right corner of the page.
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