Ralph Diaz was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in Feb. 2019. He is now on the list for a double lung transplant, which will require a three to four-month stay in Pennsylvania after the surgery.
He will be relocating to PA in November to await the “call” for his new lungs. If, after his lung transplant, he is need of a bone marrow transplant, he will be staying in PA for another six months to a year. Ralph will be on antirejection medication for the rest of his life. The surgery is required to be done in Pittsburgh, PA, as it is the only facility in the nation to offer both lung and bone marrow transplants.
To help alleviate the financial burdens on Ralph, the public is encouraged to attend a benefit on Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be a drive-through benefit located just east of the bank on Main Street in Ellendale. Pulled pork sandwhiches with sides and a cookie will be served. Other events include a bake sale, an online auction at Rally for Ralph Facebook page, with more events to follow.
This drive-through event is a free-will donation and masks are required. Rally for Ralph T-Shirts will be available for $15. Donations can be mailed to:
FNB Ellendale, Rally for Ralph, P.O. Box 337, Ellendale, MN, 56026.
Donations can be made electronically on Venmo @ RallyForRalph and through GoFundMe @ Rally for Ralph.
To donate for the silent auction or bake sale please contact any of the following individuals: Kellie Mrotz, 507-456-7454; Jennelle Olson, 507-475-1383; Barb Kuchenbecker, 507-383-2221; Stephanie Kehne, 507-363-0006; Ruth Hagen, 507-383-9743.