GROVELAND TOWNSHIP – The chips are down for Arlene DuFresne, former owner of Tranquility Spa in Ortonville, and her family are doing their best to help.
With the help of the Commonwealth Club in Madison Heights, DuFresne’s family hopes to defray medical costs so she can concentrate on getting well.
“She needs the transplant surgery, but first we need to get her healthy,” said sister Vanessa Latulippe of Goodrich.
For more than 20 years, DuFresne has been suffering serious effects of Juvenile Diabetes. The disease took a toll on her kidney and pancreas, so doctors were preparing DuFresne for a kidney and pancreas transplant.
“The transplant would have pretty much cured me,” said DuFresne. “Then these other problems happened.”
In January, the 45-year-old mother of two had a heart attack. Tests showed that DuFresne had two blockages. One was immediately corrected, but doctors are forced to wait to correct the second blockage because DuFresne’s heart is too weak.
“She is considered in heart failure,” said Latulippe. “To make matters worse, the dye they used during testing made her kidneys worse. Plus elevated enzymes in the liver suggest a blockage there.
“Because she is still unable to work, and she has no money coming in, we decided to have a fund-raiser to help defray the medical costs,” said Latulippe. “While we were on a walk-a-thon for diabetes, my daughter Mindy, sister Tania and I started talking about how we can raise funds for the transplant.
“Now we’re trying to get her healthy first, but she is not working, needs more heart surgery, and is now living with our mom,” said Latulippe. “It’s sad because finally she could see something that was going to make her close to normal health again.”
DuFresne had been working at Barren Perceives Instruments for the past three years. While she was receiving health insurance through work, since her heart attack DuFresne has been unable to work. She is now living with and being cared for by her mother, Shirley Bielby, and because of mounting health care costs, DuFresne’s mother is covering health insurance costs at almost $300 a month.
Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23, the family will conduct a weekend long fund-raiser at the Commonwealth Club, located on Dequindre north of 12 Mile Road. At 8 p.m. Saturday, the family will host a dinner and talent show, with a cash bar, at $25 per couple.
On Sunday, March 23, the club will host a full-day dart tournament with the opportunity to purchase hot dogs and chips throughout the day, with a cash bar.
Raffle items will be awarded throughout the two day event. Tickets will be available at the door.
Local businesses who would like to donate items for the raffle or those who would like to purchase tickets to the fund raiser may contact Latulippe at the offices of The Citizen, (248) 627-4332.
“It’s kind of embarrassing that I have to go through this,” said DuFresne “I thank God for my family.
“It’s amazing how you find out how many friends you have when something like this happens,” said DuFresne.