Family Of Young Woman In Need Of Double Lung Transplant Targeted In Alleged Scam

SPRAGGS, Pa. (KDKA) -- Police are investigating after the family of a woman in need of a lung transplant says they were scammed.

Morgan Yoney, 22, of Spraggs, Greene County, is fighting for her life, in desperate need of a double lung transplant.

"How do you use someone like that," Morgan said.

The Yoney family was contacted by a 22-year-old woman back in April, claiming she had terminal cancer and needed help. They met the woman face to face at the beginning of September.

"As a mother, you can't help but to help someone in the situation because she told us she didn't have anybody," Morgan's mother, Tammy Yoney, said.

The woman presented the family with a letter, asking if they'd be willing to adopt her 4-year-old daughter when she passed away. The Yoneys took the young woman under their wing and fell in love with her and her daughter.

"There were many nights we were up until 6 or 7 in the morning, rocking her, getting sick on me," Tammy said.

She'd stay in the hospital room with Morgan, and even the Yoneys house. The family said she told them she works for UPMC.

"We changed our life plans to add a 4-year-old into my life. We were preparing to start over, really," Tammy went on to say.

But a call Thursday changed everything when a reliable source told them this woman was lying. She did not have cancer, and the 4-year-old was a friend's daughter, not hers.

"I'm still having a lot of anxiety about it and trying hard to deal with it," Morgan said.

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Morgan can't understand how a healthy 22-year-old would want to play sick, or why.

"I didn't choose this. I want to be a normal 22-year-old and go out and do things with friends and stuff," Morgan said.

The family has been working with Allegheny County Police on the case. It is currently an ongoing investigation, and as of now, no charges have been filed.

KDKA's Amy Wadas reached out to UPMC. It can't confirm if this woman is an employee at UPMC Presbyterian, but are looking into it.