Donation Jugs For Woman's Organ Transplant Surgery Stolen

Woman's Mother Trying To Raise $82,000 For Kidney, Partial Pancreas Transplant

By Vikki Ortiz

of the Journal Sentinel staff

Thefts of donation jugs and a car break-in have marred money-raising efforts for Shannon Burns Eckert, a 26-year-old South Milwaukee woman hoping for a life enhancing organ transplant, her mother said Tuesday.

"I'm sure it's just jerks from wherever," Lorna Burns Hager said.

Since June, Burns Hager has worked to raise $82,000 for the kidney and partial pancreas transplant needed for her daughter. Success can be measured in the $40,000 Eckert has received from donors. But bad luck has also followed.

Since August, two collection jars were stolen from restaurants in Cudahy and Burlington. A third setback came on Sept. 7, when Burns Hager's 1993 Toyota Camry was broken into at a Brookfield strip mall. Several items - including personal thank-you cards Eckert had written to her contributors - were taken, Burns Hager said.

Police from each municipality confirmed that the thefts occurred.

"To me, the story rings very true and right from the heart," said Cudahy Police Chief Mark Hayes. "It's one of these things, you have children, you thank God you don't have to go through it."

The thefts followed a series of ups and downs surrounding Eckert's health.

After dealing with diabetes for her entire life, Eckert learned last November that one of her kidneys was failing. Doctors started her on dialysis treatments, which take several hours every other day and exhaust her.

In June, a close family friend volunteered to donate a kidney and partial pancreas, infusing the family with hope and joy. The surgery was scheduled for July.

"It makes you feel really loved," Burns Hager said in a June interview.

The fund-raising effort began, and Burns Hager planned auctions, a '50s/'60s dance and other events to raise the $82,000 not covered by insurance for the operation.

But in July, insurance complications caused the family friend, Jean Schaal, to back out of her offer. Burns Hager said she was disappointed, but understood the decision.

Eckert's uncle from Appleton - also a donor match - volunteered to be the new donor. The transplant was rescheduled for Oct. 5, and they were told their $40,000 raised would be enough for a down payment for the operation at the Medical Center at the University of Minnesota.

Then, while checking on the five-gallon water-cooler jugs at Andreas Restaurant in Cudahy and Infusino's Restaurant in Burlington, Burns Hager noticed they were missing.

Officials at both restaurants were at a loss to explain the missing jugs, which had been placed near registers, and none of the employees could pinpoint when they were taken.

"It's just horrible," said Brigitte Raimondi, co-owner of Infusino's. "It's stealing from someone who needs help."

Despite the setback, Burns Hager doesn't want the incidents to overshadow the generosity. Many strangers have contributed regularly to Eckert's cause. Still, she is upset by the thefts and is offering a $200 reward to anyone with information on what happened.

"It's just kind of like, you don't think that there are people that crummy. We all know there are," she said.

Anyone with information on the thefts is encouraged to call police or Burns Hager at (262) 534-7839.

Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sept. 28, 2000.

Copyright © 2000 Journal Sentinel Inc.

This article posted October 1, 2000.