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Project fulfills kidney hopes Thanks to donations, Ruch's Ricky Lima now has enough to cover his transplant expenses By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Ricky Lima gets a new lease on life today, with help from hundreds of people across the Rogue Valley. If all goes according to plan, the Ruch man will start Wednesday with a new kidney, donated by his aunt, Pamela Dale of Medford. Medical insurance covered the family's surgical costs for the procedure, but they did not have $7,000 to cover the expenses that were not covered by insurance. Lima's cousin, Jessica Dale of Medford, decided to raise the money as her senior project at South Medford High School. By the end of last week, the family had collected nearly twice as much money as they hoped for, "and it's still coming in," Pamela Dale said. "Unless something terrible happens, we have enough," said Pamela, who drives a Head-Start school bus. The family plans to give any surplus funds to someone else who needs money to pay for the uninsured expenses of a kidney transplant. Jessica set out cans at businesses and organized student fund-raising projects at Washington Elementary School and McLoughlin Middle School. Washington students raised $1,038, and McLoughlin Middle School students collected more than $2,100. "I spent I don't know how many hours counting change," Jessica said. "I don't really like counting change much anymore, but I like being able to help my cousin." Strangers sent checks and letters of encouragement after reading about the family's need in the Mail Tribune. Students at South Medford High School, Ricky's alma mater, kicked in, too. Drew Phillips staged a fashion show that raised $500. Veronica Freeburg gave her jar of spare change, which yielded more than $139. "People are more willing to give than I thought they would be," Jessica said. "A lot of people who donated wanted to be anonymous." Lima, who just turned 21, has had kidney problems for as long as he can remember. When he was just 18 months old, physicians discovered that cysts in his urinary system prevented his bladder from emptying completely. Urine that recycled through his system damaged his kidneys, bladder and ureters (the tubes that carry urine to the bladder). Physicians performed 19 surgeries attempting to repair his urinary system. He started dialysis treatments last fall when his kidneys failed. Lima said he was surprised that so many people he'd never met sent him money. "The money just made it way easier not to worry," Lima said Monday as he prepared for surgery at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. "It just takes all the pressure off. Now I just have to relax and take my medicines." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.