Fundraiser to help woman pay for organ transplants

A Niles woman needs a new stomach, small bowel, pancreas, duodenum and liver.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — A benefit dinner and Chinese auction for Gina Acierno Kijowski, who needs a five-organ transplant, is Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at The Gatsby Restaurant, 54 Westchester Drive.

Kijowski, 27, is on the United National Organ Sharing list for a stomach, small bowel, pancreas, liver and duodenum, the first part of the small bowel. When a match is found, her surgery is expected to be done at Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital.

Because Kijowski is small to begin with, and because her stomach cavity has shrunk since her stomach and small bowel were removed in June 2007, she needs the organs of a child, said family member Pam Harris.

Kijowski, of Niles, was diagnosed with a fast-growing desmoid tumor in March 2007, which had taken over several of her organs. Her stomach and small bowel were removed, and she will also have to have a transplanted pancreas, duodenum and liver when organs become available, Harris said.

A desmoid tumor is a noncancerous soft tissue tumor that does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it is typically hard to remove because it intertwines with surrounding tissues.

Because Kijowski’s stomach and small bowel were removed, she is unable to take food by mouth and is being fed intravenously.

Kijowski and her husband, Joseph, have two sons, Christian, 7, and Carter, 2. She was born and reared in Girard and graduated from Girard High School in 1998. Her parents are Alfred Acierno of Girard and Bob and Barbara Morain of Fort Myers, Fla.

In addition to the pasta dinner, the benefit will include a Chinese auction, which will have signed Kelly Pavlik memorabilia, a 50/50 raffle, bake sale and other fund-raising activities. There will also be a cash bar and televisions for sports fans.

The cost for the dinner is $7 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 10, and free for children 5 years and under. Carry-out is available.

The Kijowskis have health insurance through COBRA at Joseph’s last job, from which he is laid off. He is now working for Carbone Plumbing. Gina, no longer able to work, was last employed at Aetna Freight Lines in Warren.

COBRA (the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) enables people who have lost their health coverage to buy insurance policies under certain conditions.

Money is needed because not all of her medical expenses are covered by insurance, and the COBRA insurance, in addition to being expensive, will eventually run out, Harris said.

For more information about the benefit, call Harris at (330) 799-7663 or Grace Newton at (330) 533-7029.

People may also make monetary donations directly to the Gina Acierno Kijoswki Transplant Fund at any Charter One Bank or mail a donation to Charter One Bank, 35 S. State St., Girard, OH 44420.

alcorn@vindy.com