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Glynn
County – Canisters for monetary donations are again appearing
in local banks, fire stations, police stations and other
supporting agencies for another Glynn County Employee. The
last time this was done it was for Captain Garland Evors who had
a brain tumor. This time, it is for Cathy Dixon, a former
Glynn County Volunteer Firefighter, sister of a Glynn County
Fire Captain and also the wife of another Glynn County Fire
employee Captain.
Cathy
Dixon is in need of a kidney and pancreas transplant. With
over 25 years of diabetes, the battle has taken its toll on her
body. She has already had open-heart surgery in May 2001
and has spent a good bit of time in hospitals. Now she
needs the operating room again. One of the biggest
problems is the amount of financial expense, which is needed for
the transplants. Expenses from an earlier open-heart
surgery has placed a major strain on her family. Capt. Tom
Dixon of the Glynn County Fire Department already works two jobs
and overtime to try to meet ends. They are still
recovering from the cost from the last surgery.
The
couple is no stranger to helping others. Tom was chairman
of The “Toys for Kids” program, which provided over 1,500
children in Glynn County toys. Cathy was Vice-Chairman of
the project. This past Christmas, Capt. Dixon co-chaired
the first ever “Shop with a Firefighter” program. They
both say, “we have never asked for help.” “It is
extremely awkward being on the opposite side of giving.”
A few years ago Tom started the Glynn County Firefighter
hardship fund. It has helped many firefighters in the past
few years. He has a sincere desire to avoid any drain on
that fund.
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Captain
Tommy Dixon and Cathy Dixon are thankful for friends who
are assisting the the raising of funds to help Cathy get a
much needed Transplant to save and prolong her life.
Funds are being raised by Public Safety Departments in
Glynn County to help!
Cathy’s
need for an organ transplant has turned into a major cause for a
number of public safety agencies in Glynn County. The
Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, The Jekyll Island Fire
Department and The Glynn County Fire Departments have come
together to raise funds to help her. Cathy Dixon is a
nurse and detention center officer at the Glynn County Detention
Center. Friends have now come together to help
financially. Dixon’s health insurance covers
transplants, but her coverage requires her to travel to Alabama
or North Carolina to have the operation, where waiting times for
organs are much longer than in Florida. She has been in a
race in time to avoid further complications. The Mayo
Clinic in Jacksonville is just 75 miles away and transplants are
much quicker there. While most people dread operations she
is looking forward for the chance for better health and hopes to
have the transplants by her birthday March 30.
Getting
the pancreas and kidney may be the easy part for Dixon who will
be financing the operation that will cost a minimum of $130,000,
not including the expensive anti-rejection medication she will
have to take after the surgery. $10,000 will have to be
paid by her before the operation. There is also an
estimated $60,000 in estimated post-surgery costs. At the
Mayo Clinic her insurance will not cover the procedure.
The average wait there for the vital organs is estimated to be
from 4 to 6 weeks. Having waited on list in other Georgia
hospitals for the past several months, Cathy is extremely
optimistic. Her bag is packed for her trip to the hospital
and she carries a special pager to alert her when the organs
match. Capt. Dixon rarely uses sick time and plans to be
by Cathy’s side when the surgery is scheduled.
Even
inmates at the Glynn County Detention Center where Cathy works
have offered to help. Several inmates have offered her one
of their kidneys, which is nice but that is not a good idea
because she needs the pancreas too. Cathy and Tom are
blessed with friends and they have been thankful that friends
have come to their aide. The Sheriff’s Office and
the Wal-Mart employees played a basketball game fundraiser with
the Sheriff’s office losing. Cathy was the winner
raising $421.00.
A
friend and co-worker Terry Drake helped establish a trust fund
in Mrs. Dixon’s name. Contributions can be mailed to the
trust fun set up for Mrs. Dixon at the following address:
Cathy
Dixon Transplant Donor
First
Georgia Savings
P.O.
Box 2257
Brunswick,
Ga. 31521
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