UMF Students Help Get “Lungs for Kristin”
By Staff Writer ELLEN MARLOW - Last September, UMF student Greta Nelson began a fund-raiser for friend Kristin Larochelle’s lung transplant. Nelson sells purple, vinyl bracelets with the slogan “Lungs for Kristin” online to offset up to $300,000 in medical expenses for Larochelle, a sufferer of cystic fibrosis.
“I was really impressed by the response from the University of Farmington community.” Nelson shared. “Its good to see that there is a sense of community here, there are good people who want to help.” Sales began about a month ago, and the effort has raised about $600-$700.
The website “Lungs for Larochelle” was founded a few years ago as a portal for accepting donations when Larochelle’s family discovered the possibility of a double-lung transplant. In addition to the web effort, her family holds annual yard sales “that usually bring in a few thousand dollars” and facilitates an annual letter campaign to spread awareness about Larochelle’s disease and her needs.
In September, Nelson (with others) started a facebook group to publicize the cause. “Other people have jumped on board [to help] sell,” Nelson said. Some sell the bracelets in Larochelle’s hometown of Saco, Maine, and, according to Nelson, “quite a few people have purchased a bunch of bracelets to sell at their work, or in their community.”
Nelson met Larochelle as a freshman in their high school in Saco. With one of the signature bracelets on her own wrist, Nelson recalled why she began the project. “I feel like as a good friend I have some responsibility,” she said. “Even if I don’t raise a lot, it’s hard to raise $300,000.”
Larochelle is a 19-year-old resident of Saco and a student at Souther Maine Community College. “There’s something really uplifting about her,” Nelson said. “She has the stresses of an every college student—classes, relationships, a job—with this added on. If she still wakes up every day with a smile, then I should be able to, too.”
According to the “Lungs for Larochelle” website, daily treatments for her illness range from “over a dozen daily medications” to inhaling nebulizer medication while wearing a vibrating vest twice a day that helps loosen secretions in her lungs and ease breathing.
Nelson describes the condition as “a big stress in [Larochelle’s] life,” but also said that Larochelle stays active, using her vest and running several miles a day, “anything that can help loosen up the fluid.”
“She really appreciates her health,” Nelson said. “There’s so much more to her than her disease.” No one can predict when Larochelle may need the transplant; all they can hope is that they have the money raised before its needed.
As defined on the project website, cystic fibrosis is inherited and chronically clogs the lungs, “leading to life-threatening lung infections.” It can also lead to obstructions in the pancreas which stop insulin production and “prevent natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.”
As a result of the condition Larochelle ends up in the hospital often for IV or other medications. “When you go in and get that hospital bracelet, it says the number of times you’ve been admitted. Kristin’s was at 89 over the summer,” Nelson remembered.
To purchase bracelets or make a donation, visit www.cogentartel.net/2009/support-kristin.html or search “Lungs for Kristen” on facebook.
 
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