Fundraiser helps Spraggs woman in need of lung transplants
Morgan Yoney, 21, of Spraggs, received as an early birthday present from a friend, a signed guitar from the country duo Branch and Dean, who performed a benefit concert for Morgan in Waynesburg Friday. Morgan has cystic fibrosis and has been waiting for a double-lung transplant for a year and eight months.
Country band Branch and Dean perform Friday night at The Perfect Round, 1005 Rolling Meadows Road, Waynesburg, during a fundraiser for Morgan Yoney, a 21-year-old Spraggs woman with cystic fibrosis and in need of a double-lung transplant.
WAYNESBURG – Morgan Yoney will turn 22 Thursday. She’s already received birthday wishes, gifts and even a signed guitar from the country band “Branch and Dean” that performed at a fundraiser in her honor Friday night.
But what she really needs this year is a set of O-positive lungs.
As a baby, Yoney, of Spraggs, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder in which the lungs and digestive system are clogged with mucus, often resulting in liver and lung transplants, of which she’s had both in 2010. But her body rejected the first set of lungs in 2013, and she’s been waiting for a second double-lung transplant for nearly two years.
Yoney was the beneficiary of a concert fundraiser Friday at The Perfect Round in Franklin Township. About 100 people came out to see the country duo “Branch and Dean” perform and participate in a Chinese auction, which helped raise about $1,600 for Yoney.
A family friend, Lori Hughes, organized the night, which included the raffle of a signed guitar from the band. A friend of Yoney’s family, Betty Hancher of Claysville, bought tickets and wrote “Happy Birthday Morgan” on them. One of those tickets won the guitar and it was given to Morgan as a birthday present.
Yoney wasn’t able to attend the fundraiser because she’s been hospitalized with an infection since April 23.
“We’re hoping she’ll be released by Thursday, which is her birthday,” said Yoney’s mother, Tammy.
Because Morgan Yoney wasn’t there, the band called her and sang a song to her through a FaceTime app. They also sang “Happy Birthday” to her. She posted a photo offering her thanks to the band on Facebook a few days later.
“Unfortunately, I am still in the hospital so I was unable to attend, but I was lucky enough to FaceTime multiple times throughout the night, and was personally sang to by Branch himself via iPhone,” she wrote in the post. “This guitar along with a few other things will forever be cherished by me, and I could not be more blessed to have such an amazing community.”
It was the perfect time for a fundraiser, since May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.
Tammy said Central Greene and Jefferson-Morgan school districts are recognizing every Monday in May as “Morgan Mondays,” and encouraging students and staff to wear purple in honor of Yoney.
People can donate to Yoney’s online fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/morgansarmy.