Indiana Legion and COTA changing lives together

Keona Shearer was on dialysis and in need of a kidney transplant. WPTA-21 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana told the story of Keona last year.

​FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA 21) – 14-year-old Keona Shearer, better known as Keke, isn’t like most teenagers. She has to do much more than homework and chores.

She copes with serious health problems, but her family is hopeful someone will take a chance on their daughter and they’re on a mission to find that someone.

Keke is on dialysis, it helps keep her alive. She’s been on it for nearly two years since her kidney failure.

Keke’s father, Justin Shearer, donated one of his kidneys to Keke when she was five, but that kidney is failing.

“To me, that someone would actually give up part of themselves so that I can have a better life, hang out with my friends, eat the foods I want. It would just mean a lot that they would go through a transplant and pain just for me,” said Keke.

Well, good news! The Indiana Legion received a note recently from Rick Lofgren, President & CEO of Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). Lofgren said "Just a quick note about one of our Ft. Wayne kids who received her kidney transplant on Friday... Keke is one of the kids the Indiana Legion Fund here at COTA helped thanks to the incredible work by Dewey during his Commander’s project, as well as the work done by members of The American Legion Family in the Department. This has been a long and successful process with posts, units and squadrons still giving to help Hoosier kids well after Dewey’s formal project was complete!"

​Keke's mother Jessica says "Our family can’t thank everyone who reached out and for all your thoughts and prayers. Not only from the last few days but from the many years of support that many of you have given and donated as she’s been on this journey most of her life. She is a strong young lady with a heart of gold and I believe she is going to be able to give so much some day, even more than she already has, to many people because of her experiences in her lifetime! Our appreciation pours out to you all from our close friends and family to people who barely know her, we love you and appreciate the support! Her road isn’t cleared yet but we are beyond thrilled of the outcome so far! Although we are rejoicing, I know there are the hearts of this donors family that are grieving tonight and our thoughts and prayers continue for this precious family for the loss of what we believe, was possibly Kekes age or younger. How do you thank someone for a gift like they have given Keke, and the many others lives this donor was able to help too! Please prayer for them and we hope someday soon we will be able to share our love and Keona’s life with them! Love, The Shearer family"

To keep with with Keke's progress, you can follow her father's Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/justin.shearer.334