Fourteen-year-old Gauge Edwards of Nampa is one of 30,000 people in the United States living with Cystic Fibrosis.
After a recent stay in the hospital due to a lung infection, doctors told Gauge and his parents, he needs a double lung transplant because his lung capacity has diminished to around 30 percent.
The costs related to the surgery and after-care could reach $200,000. With the family still unsure of just which expenses their insurance company will cover, they took matters into their own hands.
The Edwards hosted a fund-raising dinner and silent auction at the Star Community Barn Sunday night. It was a standing room only event.
Gauge, who was thrilled with the turnout, told 6 On Your Side, “You really realize people care about you a lot. Every table is full and there’s people who have to stand on the sides because there’s so many people.”
The crowd at the event was diverse. People who’ve known Gauge all of his life showed up to lend support.
“He’s an amazing kid. He’s turned out to be an amazing young man,” said Dutch Flynn.
Even people who’ve never met Gauge or his family were in attendance.
Gauge was very happy to learn he’d touched so many lives, and said, “How much support we’ve got from our friends, family, people who’ve seen us on the news. It was great!”
Food was provided by GoodWood BBQ and there was also a Cash Bar hosted by PreFunk.
Anyone who could make it to the event, but still wants to help out, can donate to a GoFundMe account set up for Gauge’s medical expenses.
