Save a life: fundraiser held for Johnstown man waiting for five organ donations
'It takes a village:' a fundraiser was held for a Ferndale grad waiting for 5 organ transplants at the American Legion Saturday afternoon.
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — We first met William Maris Jr. back when he was a fourth grader at Ferndale Area Elementary School following an intestine transplant.
"I have been through a lot," he told 6 News back in 1998.
We visited William once again in 1999 -- after another intestine transplant -- along with getting a new liver and pancreas.
"Thanks to everybody that donated to my transplant fund," William said in 1999.
William is now 31 years old -- and on the transplant list once again -- over two decades later.
"Right now I'm waiting for five organs. There's not much I can do right now," he told us this weekend.
This time, he's waiting for five organ donations: a liver, intestine, pancreas, stomach, and kidney.
RELATED | 'It takes a village:' fundraiser planned for Ferndale grad waiting for 5 organ transplants
A motorcycle ride and basket party fundraiser was held Saturday afternoon for William.
The proceeds will go to William's Transplant Fund so they can focus on heath instead of finances.
"It means more to my family than you will ever know," said his mother, Lisa Maris.
This is the tough part. Asking for help doesn't come easy for me. William has a long road ahead of him. He is currently at the top of the transplant list, so his surgery can occur at any time. After the transplant, doctors anticipate a minimum of one month in the intensive care unit followed by months hospitalized. Upon discharge from the hospital, depending on William's needs, he will have to stay close to the hospital in Pittsburgh for 3 to 5 weeks to do daily visits. As his mom and power of attorney, I will be with William every day through this long journey. Expenses we expect to be incurred for travel, lodging, home living, medical expenses, food, and basic things while William is in the hospital and then when he returns home will be extremely high."
"So, 23 years later, they gave us a prognosis of two weeks to six months to live. To think that we've done so well for so long, and here we are again at this point, it's disheartening. It breaks my heart," Lisa told 6 News.
While William says he's appreciative of the community support, the most important thing is to become an organ donor.
Save a life. Organ donate. You can save somebody's life, even though you're gone. Somebody is going to save my life, even though they're gone. I encourage people to do it," William told 6 News.
William said he hopes the organ donations will lend him more time with his two-year-old son.
"Hopefully, go back to normal and just enjoy life with my son," he said.