Family and friends of a Montoursville native are raising money to cover uninsured medical expenses associated with her kidney transplant.

Jennifer Kershner, 50, has been suffering with end-stage renal disease for a decade and recently received a kidney transplant from UPMC Transplant Services in Pittsburgh.

A graduate of Montoursville Area High School in 1989, Kershner has four children, with her youngest age 20. She also has two grandchildren: a grandchild who is 6 years old and a granddaughter who is 2 months old. Married to her soulmate, Duke, in September 2016, she cannot wait to participate more freely in family activities and go on a long-awaited honeymoon to Hawaii with her husband. She’d also like to watch her youngest daughter graduate college, plus see her grandchildren grow up.

But the economic times have been a challenge and she remains unemployed after the company she worked for closed its doors in December.

Funding this life-saving procedure is a monumental task, as there will be many medical expenses not covered by health insurance.

Kershner anticipates having uninsured, transplant-related expenses involving co-pays, deductibles, doctor visits, lodging and immunosuppressant medications she will require for the rest of her life.

Told she would need to raise $40,000 for these expenses it is a financial challenge that the family cannot meet alone.

Instead, the family has turned to the nonprofit “Help Hope Live” for trusted and experienced transplant fundraising.

Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses.

Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial needs for every patient.

Kershner has chosen to fundraise with the national medical fundraising nonprofit, in part, because it assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors.

Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, donate now at https://helphopelive.org/campaign/13454