Community Raises More than $45,000 for Girl's Lung Transplant

The Homewood-Flossmoor community is coming together in a big way to support one of its own, Northwestern sophomore Josie Nordman. Nordman, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a chronic and frequently fatal lung disease when she was only four months old, currently has only 22-percent of lung function left.

As medical costs rise and the cost for a transplant loomed, her mother, Nicolle, reached out on Facebook for help.

"We are struggling to pay our monthly bills due to so many medical costs that we have no idea how to come up with this kind of money," Nicolle said on Facebook. "We need a miracle …"

After that post, two websites were created to help facilitate donations to the family for Josie's medical costs. With an original goal of $10,000, a flood of money poured in. Currently, the two sites combined have raised more than $45,000 to help offset the costs of Josie's care.

"I am humbled by the overwhelming support our communities have shown,"said Eleanor Davis in a post on one of the sites.

As donations continue to stream in, local businesses are getting in on the act, too. Five local businesses are holding 'Josie Day's' throughout March in an effort to raise money as well.

The next Josie Day is Wednesday, March 27 at Twisted Q, where 10 percent of all dine-in sales will be donated. 

For those wishing to donate, visit either The Josie Normand Lung Transplant Fund or Josie Norman's Lung Transplant.