Fundraiser Underway For Metro Woman In Need Of Kidney Transplant

A metro woman with lupus said she needs a kidney transplant, but she can't get one.

Monday, October 27th 2014, 11:01 pm

By: News 9

Fundraiser Underway For Metro Woman In Need Of Kidney Transplant

A metro woman with lupus said she needs a kidney transplant, but she can't get one. That is, until she figures out how to come up with thousands of dollars needed for the after-care.

But one of her friends said she has a plan, and she needs your help.

Without a living donor, Shelley Conrad said she could be on the waiting list for up to three years. But now, part of Downtown Oklahoma City is being transformed for her cause.

It took a framing crew less than three days to put together "Hudson Haunt at Midtown," a makeshift maze on the corner of 10th Street and Hudson Avenue.

“We're working countless hours with an amazing team that are just really putting in the work,” said owner of Revel Eight Salon & Spa, Claire Buchanan-Westlund.

There will be 24 actors and 12 different scenes through the more than five-minute walk. It will be a fundraising effort all for Conrad.

The single mother was diagnosed with lupus when she was a senior in high school. She's now 50, and within the last 18 months, she said the illness has come back with a vengeance.

“I'm now on dialysis three times a week,” said Conrad. “It destroyed my kidneys, it destroyed the vision in my eye.”

“My team, and my salon, and my family, and obviously my community feels very strongly about helping someone in need,” said Buchanan-Westlund.

Nearly two years of ups and downs for this survivor, and Claire Buchanan-Westlund has been right by her friend's side during some of Shelley's toughest moments, including when she lost all of her hair.

“She's just so sweet and dear to my heart,” said Buchanan-Westlund.

As Shelley faces the unexpected, she said she now has to deal with the reality that she needs funding to keep a new kidney working properly after the transplant.

“The anti-rejection drugs will run for $3,000 to $6,000 a month for the rest of my life,” said Conrad.

At least $5,000 must be available to even be placed on the waiting list.

Claire said she wants to raise as much money as possible, no matter what it takes.

“All this for Shelley,” said Buchanan-Westlund.

The Haunted Maze will be open to the public, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It's $10 a person.

Learn more about the fundraiser for Shelley Conrad.