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Wednesday, Jan. 07, 2009

Transplant recipient gets loads of support

FORT VALLEY–The Calvin Statham family received their Christmas gift a month earlier than most.

On Nov. 24, Calvin Statham, 55, received a new heart at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta after a bout with congestive heart failure.

On Christmas, his family visited him at Emory to observe his efforts in rehabilitation. What they saw was Calvin Statham in the gym, a far cry from the wheelchair-bound man he was just a month earlier.

“He’s doing extremely well,” said his sister, Sabrina Swan. “He’s taking it step by step.”

Just a couple of weeks prior to his transplant surgery, Calvin Statham was the benefactor of a fund-raising drive that included performances by gospel artists Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs.

Churches and the community also supported the effort.

That weekend, the family raised nearly $10,000, which was matched by the Georgia Transplant Fund.

“It was a surprise and a blessing,” said Statham’s mother, Evelyn Statham. “God had to have something to do with it.”

Now the same concert promoter, Harry Ross, plans to stage two more events to raise money for Calvin Statham’s medicine.

On Jan. 24, The Pilgrim Jubilees and Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbirds will perform at 5:30 p.m. at Anna B. Lumpkin Auditorium in Fort Valley.

On Jan. 25, Vickie Winans will perform at the same time in the same location.

Advance tickets for the Jan. 24 event cost $12 while admission at the door will be $15.

Admission to the Jan. 25 event will cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Ross also plans to appeal to all the churches in Fort Valley to take up a special love offering at their respective locations. The offerings will be presented to the family at the final concert.

Ross said he is certain the two concerts will bring the family closer to their $20,000 goal. He also said he hopes the events will act as a springboard for businesses and churches within the community to focus on helping those in need even more.

“We don’t ever know when we ourselves will be stricken with illness that will require community support,” Ross said.

To contact writer Natasha Smith, call 923-3109, extension 236.