Sixteen-year-old Gena Whaley is an honor-roll student in her junior year at Cumberland County High School. She’s an artist, she’s active and outdoorsy; and she’s an all-around good kid.

And she’s got Cystic Fibrosis.

While the disease had been pretty much manageable for most of Gena’s life, things went bad two years ago, leaving her in need of a lung transplant. She can’t even swim or play tennis anymore – two of the things she loves – because she simply can’t handle the physical exertion.

A new set of lungs will enable Gena to again do all the physical activities she loves… things she can no longer do because of her debilitating disease.

The good news is, Gena has finally made it to the top of the transplant list.

The not-so-good news is the expense her family is facing in having to spend as much as six months in Ohio for surgery and recovery. Her parents will have to take time off from work, pay rent in both Crossville and Ohio, cover living expenses and the cost of Gena’s medications.
Then, after the surgery, there are the costs associated with recovery.

A friend of the family started a GoFundMe campaign, hoping to raise $8,000 to help the Whaley family with their expenses. It’s only a fraction of what they need to cover all the expenses, but as the page states, it will at least get Gena into surgery.

So far, the campaign has raised nearly $3,600.

Click here to help.