GREENE – Twelve years ago, Jeanne Clink, a lifelong resident of Greene, was diagnosed with Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis and a rare autoimmune disease which caused irreparable damage to her lungs and heart and left her bedridden and unable to breath on her own.
But today, thanks to a life-saving double lung and heart transplant and the incredible support of her family, friends and community, she is now walking and breathing on her own.
The road to recovery has been an arduous one, however. Dozens of different medications and physical therapy are helping Clink return to the world she loves. To ease some of the financial stress, Clink’s best friend since childhood, Jill Doll, is organizing a barbecue fundraiser for the community to contribute both moral and financial support to the entire Clink family. The event will take place on Saturday at the Berean Bible Church with an admission fee of $8 for adults and $4 for children 10 and younger.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, a variety of salads and drinks will be aromatic background of the fun-filled day. There will be a silent auction of donated gift baskets from businesses as close as Greene and as far as Cooperstown and Oneonta. Various baskets will contain tickets for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, two greens and a cart rental from Genegantslet Golf Course, sheet pizzas from Mimi’s and Grotta’s, wine and glasses from Black Bear Winery, a basket from the New York State Historical Association and gifts cards from The Cheese Trap, Cracker Barrel, Ice Cream Store on 206, Price Chopper and Wal-Mart. Many of Clink’s friends have also donated items and baskets to help with her recovery.
There will be outdoor games for all ages such as Ladder Ball, Cornhole and Can-Jam (if some of the games sound unfamiliar, Doll assured that they’re all fun, but showing up trying them out is the only way to know for sure).
It isn’t easy to watch a family member go through a terrible disease. Samantha Clink, Jeanne’s daughter, said watching her mother in such pain was made all that harder since she is only 41.
“She had my brother and I young and she’s always been the toughest person I know,” said Clink, who is looking forward to a weekend of smiling, laughing neighbors and fun in the sun.
She explained that the last 12 years had grown increasingly difficult as her mother went from needing oxygen only at night to carrying around a tank 24/7.
