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Pittsburghers Help Raise Money For North Carolina Woman's Transplant Recovery

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A woman struggling to pay for a life-saving, double-lung transplant will not have to wait much longer.

Since KDKA first reported on Lethia Everett Thursday night, an online fundraising campaign has raised thousands of dollars.

Everett, of North Carolina, did not know how she was going to ever get enough money to pay for her aftercare expenses following a double-lung transplant she desperately needs.

"I just want to thank everybody in advance for your support if you can," Everett said.

At that point, she had collected just under $3,000 of the $40,000 needed to cover her expenses.

Then, she and her husband learned something that others already knew.

Pittsburgh is special.

In a matter of days, the Everetts have raised more than $60,000 to cover Lethia's recovery.

"From what I can understand, we have to live here, for a while, because you have to do all her follow-ups and things with the doctors and surgeons at the hospital," Ervin Everett said.

Lethia Everett has an auto immune disease that has affected her lungs.

Doctors said her condition has reached the critical stage and she needs the transplant right away.

She could not get on the transplant list until it was clear she would have the money to cover her aftercare expenses.

Her health insurance only covers the actual transplant.

Donors said they were glad to be able to give her the boost she needed.

To help her, visit: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/lungs-for-lethia/305928

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