©The Morning Journal 2004

LORAIN -- When friends of the family discovered 16-year-old Alyssa Feldkamp needed a liver transplant, they banded together to help.

Their efforts resulted in two fund-raisers, one yesterday and the other to be held today.

''While most of her high school friends are busy making other lists, like the National Honor Society or the soccer team roster, Alyssa was waiting for her name to appear on the national liver donor list,'' said Wade LaForce,(squadron 22 Vermilion) one of the founding members of the nonprofit Friends of Lorain Foundation Inc. Her name has now been added to that list, LaForce said.

Alyssa is an honor student, a varsity soccer player for Lorain Admiral King and member of the Student Council and the Foreign Language Club.

When she was 9, Alyssa was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, an autoimmune disorder. By age 11, physicians noticed elevated liver function while performing routine blood work. Alyssa was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis or PSC, a slow, progressing, potentially fatal liver disease that leads to cirrhosis, the same disease that proved fatal to NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Alyssa's only hope for survival is an eventual liver transplant.

''Alyssa's father and I are dear friends,'' said LaForce. ''Alyssa lettered as a freshman on the girls' soccer team at Lorain Admiral King. She's a vivacious, fun-loving, very clever and just a beautiful little 16-year-old who's full of life,'' he said.

Along with LaForce, the Friends for Lorain was founded by Jon Owens, Brad Parobek, Chris Cook and Pat Harrington. ''We're all high school buddies,'' said LaForce. Alyssa's father, Ron Feldkamp, is one of the buddies.
LaForce said the group came into existence because of a need to help Ron and his wife, Caroline, with their ever-increasing medical expenses for Alyssa. ''We thought we could help with the enormous medical bills as well as create awareness for people to be donors,'' said LaForce.

''Since the Feldkamp family is such a well-known, prominent family in the Lorain area, word spread quickly about our fund-raisers,'' said LaForce.

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''Alyssa's rated to receive the next liver that fits her profile in this part of the country. She needs the liver now. Hopefully, her name will be elevated to where she gets the next liver in the country,'' said LaForce.

The group has decided to continue helping others in a similar plight as Alyssa. ''Alyssa's our 2004 recipient,'' said LaForce. For her part, Alyssa is just glad to be home from the hospital. ''It's very nice that everyone's doing this for me,'' said Alyssa, who briefly attended yesterday's steak fry fund-raiser. ''I feel good now and I'm just glad to be home. I spent 12 weeks in the Cleveland Clinic's children's hospital,'' said Alyssa, who turns 17 on Sept. 18.

''Right now, I'm just ready for everything to be over with,'' she said.

Alyssa said she will be tutored this fall and that, in terms of a career, she is considering going into the nursing profession.

She had words of encouragement for her peers who are going through similar life-and-death experiences.

''It's something tough to go through,'' said Alyssa. ''But you've got to keep your head held high and you'll get through it eventually.''

At yesterday's steak fry dinner and silent auction held at German's Villa, Vermilion, 1,300 tickets, priced at $20 each, were sold within three weeks' time, LaForce said.

In addition, an estimated $40,000 in items was collected in about a month's time for the silent auction.

Today, a special golf outing to raise funds for Alyssa will be held at 10 a.m. at Emerald Valley , 4397 Leavitt Road , Lorain .