Benefit for Gwen Keeley a success

Benefit for Gwen Keeley a success

Tim Leeds

The organizers of a benefit to help pay the expenses of Gwen Keeley, who had a liver transplant last month, said, despite inclement weather, Saturday's fundraiser was a success.

"We were really pleased with the turnout and grateful with the final result, " Terry Lilletvedt, who works with Keeley at Independence Bank, said this morning.

Lilletvedt said that more than 200 people came to the benefit, with sales of dinners and raffle tickets coming to more than $4,000 Saturday. That brought the total of the fundraiser to more than $6,000.

Gwen Keeley's husband, Terry Keeley, said last week that his wife is doing well in recovery and rehabilitation at the University of Washington Medical Center. Gwen Keeley had to be treated — she had fallen into a coma due to the rapid onset of her problems — before she could receive the transplant.

That included her being treated on the first liver dialysis unit. The machine was created at the medical center, which Terry Keeley said also created the first kidney dialysis unit.

He said she now is going through rehabilitation, both for recovering from her transplant as well as from her illness. Transplant recipients have to stay near the hospital where the transplant was performed, for at least three months, for continued testing.

Terry Keeley said his wife may have to stay longer than that, although they are hopeful it could be close to the 3-month mark.

A website with a journal about her surgery and progress has been set up at http://www.caringbridge.com, with the name "gwenkeeley. "

Lilletvedt said the fundraiser, held at Fifth Avenue Christian Church from 4 p. m. to 7 p. m., never had a great rush, but people came to the event in a steady stream.

The dinner — sloppy joes — was a great success, but the high point seemed to be people looking at the raffle items and buying tickets.

Lilletvedt thanked the people who donated, including local businesses for donating the food and items for the raffles, as well as the people who helped put the gift baskets together to be raffled and worked at the fundraiser.

"It was fun, " she added.

Lilletvedt said she believes it helped having the raffle items on sale at Independence Bank all week before they were moved to the benefit. She said more than $2,000 was raised by raffle ticket sales at the bank before the fundraiser even started.

The themed gift baskets raffled off included one of memorabilia of Tennessee Titan Marc Mariani, a guided pheasant hunt, gardening and a "Men's Hunting, Fishing and Recreation" basket.

The organizers of a benefit to help pay the expenses of Gwen Keeley, who had a liver transplant last month, said, despite inclement weather, Saturday's fundraiser was a success.

"We were really pleased with the turnout and grateful with the final result, " Terry Lilletvedt, who works with Keeley at Independence Bank, said this morning.

Lilletvedt said that more than 200 people came to the benefit, with sales of dinners and raffle tickets coming to more than $4,000 Saturday. That brought the total of the fundraiser to more than $6,000.

Gwen Keeley's husband, Terry Keeley, said last week that his wife is doing well in recovery and rehabilitation at the University of Washington Medical Center. Gwen Keeley had to be treated — she had fallen into a coma due to the rapid onset of her problems — before she could receive the transplant.

That included her being treated on the first liver dialysis unit. The machine was created at the medical center, which Terry Keeley said also created the first kidney dialysis unit.

He said she now is going through rehabilitation, both for recovering from her transplant as well as from her illness. Transplant recipients have to stay near the hospital where the transplant was performed, for at least three months, for continued testing.

Terry Keeley said his wife may have to stay longer than that, although they are hopeful it could be close to the 3-month mark.

A website with a journal about her surgery and progress has been set up at www.caringbridge.com.

Lilletvedt said the fundraiser, held at Fifth Avenue Christian Church from 4 p. m. to 7 p. m., never had a great rush, but people came to the event in a steady stream.

The dinner — sloppy joes — was a great success, but the high point seemed to be people looking at the raffle items and buying tickets.

Lilletvedt thanked the people who donated, including local businesses for donating the food and items for the raffles, as well as the people who helped put the gift baskets together to be raffled and worked at the fundraiser.

"It was fun, " she added.

Lilletvedt said she believes it helped having the raffle items on sale at Independence Bank all week before they were moved to the benefit. She said more than $2,000 was raised by raffle ticket sales at the bank before the fundraiser even started.

The themed gift baskets raffled off included one of memorabilia of Tennessee Titan Marc Mariani, a guided pheasant hunt, gardening and a "Men's Hunting, Fishing and Recreation" basket.