Fundraiser Set for Kidney Transplant Recipient, Abbeville Resident Tyler Hanks

A fundraiser is being held for Abbeville resident Tyler Hanks who will be receiving a new kidney on Sept. 4. Photo provided.

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

For more than two years, Abbeville resident Tyler Hanks has been waiting on a miracle.

The 24-year-old needed a kidney, and in July, that miracle arrived and a match was found.

Since then, he’s also discovered he has a whole lot of angels to go along with his miracle.

About two and a half years ago, Hanks was diagnosed with chronic glomerulonephritis – an inflammation of the glomeruli, which are structures in your kidneys that are made up of tiny blood vessels. These knots of vessels help filter your blood and remove excess fluids. If the glomeruli are damaged, kidneys stop working properly, and the body can go into kidney failure.

Tyler Hanks.

Three times a week, Hanks undergoes dialysis during the day and works third shift at his job in Batesville.

In July, he was notified a donor was found and on Sept. 4, he will receive his new lease on life at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Hanks’ insurance will cover most of the surgery costs; however, he will be out of work for at least three months. His wife, Hannah, will also need to be at home to help him recover.

As soon as the Hanks’ received word that a kidney match was found, friends and family came together to plan a series of fundraisers to help provide the family with the funds to keep them going until they can return to work.

“As for the community and what they’ve done, it makes me speechless,” Hanks said. “It’s crazy, all these people willing to help in my time of need.”

A BBQ/Chicken Fundraiser will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 at North Oxford Church, located at 324 County Road 101 in Oxford.

A donation of $10 will be collected at the door. Dinner plates will include barbecue, baked beans and coleslaw or chicken strips, fries and baked beans. A dessert and drink are included. There will be live entertainment and a live auction starting at 6:30 p.m.

One of the organizers, family friend Sandy Bishop, said donations for the auction are still needed.

“We need monetary donations and/or items to auction off that evening,” she said. “Anything from cakes and pies to handmade items that come from the heart. And we don’t turn down gift cards or products purchased from just about anywhere and anything else that can be auctioned. It’s vital that we help this young man and his wife.”

Monetary donations can be dropped off at the event or mailed to Bishop at 26 County Road 369, Oxford, MS. 38655 or made through PayPal.

“This young man has been through a traumatic ordeal, yet his faith has never wavered and he hasn’t given up,” Bishop said. “He has continued to work, pray himself, calm his wife and family’s fears as they go through this with him, and go to dialysis, all the while praying and hoping that eventually, he’ll be able to leave all of this behind him. Tyler Hanks is a hero.”

For more information and to view some of the donated items being auctioned, visit the BBQ and Chicken Benefit for Tyler Hanks Facebook events page for the fundraiser.