TEHKUMMAH—The community of Tehkummah and beyond is joining together to hold a fundraising brunch to support 19-year-old Amanda Albrecht as she recovers from a double lung transplant due to her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.
“We are all doing this for them, as a community. They are part of our community family,” stated Ruth Streicher. “They would help us or anyone in the community who was in the same position.”
Ms. Streicher said the entire community is getting involved. “Amanda is a very quiet person and doesn’t like the attention, but having a double lung transplant is a big deal and everyone has been worrying about her.”
She pointed out, “Kathleen (Amanda’s) mom is a vendor at the NEMI farmers’ market and her father Earl’s family is all well known in the community.”
Mr. Albrecht said his daughter, “is a tough girl. She keeps fighting. There have been times we wondered if she was going to pull through and if it wasn’t for her fighting, she might not have made it.”
Amanda received her new lung son October 5, in a Toronto hospital.
“She had some good days and some bad days in October, but yesterday (last Friday) they let her out of the hospital,” said Mr. Albrecht. “She will have to go back to hospital every other day for physio and will be on IV until November.” She is expected to continue this schedule for two or three months. While in Toronto she is staying in an apartment with her mother.
“We are holding this fundraising brunch to help with the ongoing costs of the apartment rental and all the other expenses,” said Ms. Streicher. “Her mother Kathleen is with Amanda in Toronto, and once Amanda is out of the hospital, she will have to go for doctors’ appointments in Toronto. We are holding the fundraiser to help with all the costs involved. We understand that Amanda is going to need to be there at least three months,” she said, explaining the costs of rent of an apartment are significant. And because Amanda is 19, she can’t stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
The brunch will take place November 21 at the Tehkummah Triangle Seniors Club. Cost of the brunch will be by donation and will be served from 9 am to 1 pm. Takeout is available.
The menu will include bacon, egg, cheese on a bun, hashbrown, fruit cups, coffee and homemade doughnuts.
There will also be home baking for sale and the organizers will be accepting new donated items for a silent auction. Items can be dropped off at the home of Mahlon and Ruth Streicher. They can be reached at 705-859-2159.
“We appreciate anything like baking and donated items for the auction or for people to just come out and support the fundraiser,” said Ms. Streicher. She pointed out local stores and businesses like Mindemoya Foodland have been giving discounts for items for the brunch. “We do live on a great island.”
Mr. Albrecht said, “We really appreciate all the support we are receiving from the community. Amanda was saying she has been sick all her life and she doesn’t know what it is like to feel good. She is hoping the double lung transplant might do this.”
