By STEPHANIE BEACH
Local columnist
June 22, 2009 07:00 am Cree McPherson's freshman year at Traverse City Central High School is over, but instead of looking forward to a fun summer, the 15-year-old faces a July trip to the Mayo Clinic for major heart surgery. Cree was diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy over spring break after a fainting episode at school. A trip to her doctor led to an appointment with a specialist who diagnosed Cree in the advanced stages of the genetic condition that is classified beyond high risk and rare in someone so young. It cannot be cured, only alleviated. Cree may face uncertainty right now, but one thing she can be assured of is the community's love and support. Family friend Chris Adams and her family stepped in and organized a benefit on Cree's behalf to help with the mounting expenses. A spaghetti dinner and silent auction was held May 30 and raised approximately $6,300, with donations still arriving daily. "Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks for all the prayers, love, support and donations," Cree and her family wrote. "Thanks so much to King's Court for donating the use of their club house for the event, Oleson's Food Store for all the dinner supplies, Sara Lee for desserts, everyone who donated baked goods for the bake sale and the businesses that gave items for the silent auction, along with the numerous cash donations." Cree also would like to thank Stefani Pentiuk and her parents for coming to reassure her that everything would be all right. Stefani has had both heart and liver transplants and really helped Cree feel better about the surgery. An honor student, Cree is planning to pack an iPod and portable DVD player to help pass the time at the Mayo Clinic, but she was going to miss communicating with her friends because her laptop was broken. The Community Living Center in Traverse City solved that problem and gained Cree's extreme gratitude by presenting her with a brand new laptop. The family also sent a special thank-you to Wilderness Crossing, EuroStop Cafe, Verano Tan, Hamlet's Quick Lube, Diane's School of Cosmetology, the Stout family, Pizza Hut, Dominos, Good Year, Charter Communications, Grand Traverse Pie Company, The Crown Golf Course, Burritt's Fresh Markets, Farm Bureau Insurance, Traverse City Central High School, Annie's, Build A Bear, Kay's, Crystal Mountain Resort, Mirage Tanning, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, A-Ga-Ming Golf Course, William's Fast Lube, Pat McCarthy, Federal Credit Union, Don and Jean Ludka for volunteering to put out jars at their 7-11 Stores, and Carol South for the article in the May 27 Record-Eagle. "Again we cannot thank everyone enough for the wonderful support ... We (are blessed to) live in a community that even in these hard economic times has embraced Cree ...," the McPherson family wrote.
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Photos
Stephanie Beach