Family goes through hard time awaiting transplant

By Jan Gaillard

Correspondent

LYNNHAVEN

Every afternoon at 3 o'clock, Tammy McClenney gives her children, 18 month-old Abbey and 4-year-old Riley, a kiss before handing them over to her own mother, who has just returned from work.

She then heads for Norfolk's Sentara Heart Hospital, a familiar route. Her husband, Jim Lemois, a mere 37, is awaiting a new heart.

The family has traveled a hard road for the past four years.

Lemois, formerly a car salesman, suffered heart damage when a virus attacked his system. McClenney, 34, recently received a wrist injury as a Virginia Beach police officer, resulting in disability retirement.

McClenney is sleeping on the sofa in her parents Oceana home to make it easier for them to help with the children. Her house is for sale to offset huge medical expenses.

"I'm tired," McClenney said, admitting stress of worry over Lemois' health and bills.

"It's like a full-time job going to the hospital," she said. "Jim's on Medicare, but we're responsible for 20 percent.

"After the transplant, the drugs he has to take will cost $3,000 to $4,000 a month - the transplant itself will cost over half a million dollars."

Lemois checked in Aug. 19, and he's covered for only 60 hospital days, McClenney said.

"He's been there over a month this time. His heart was weakened to the point that his defibrillator was going off all the time," she said.

Naomi Mitchell, the family's neighbor, said it's been difficult watching them struggle.

"It's such a long process, what you have to go through," Mitchell said. "Tammy and Jim are such a great couple and they love the kids so much. "

Lemois' face lights up when McClenney enters his room each afternoon.

"It's the best part of my day," he said, smiling at his wife. "It's been hard. The defibrillator went off during my 1-year-old's birthday, and I missed all the others.

"One day it went off 16 times, and it's like being kicked in the chest but it saved my life."

Ever positive, Lemois cites great support from people at the hospital, including other patients.

"I couldn't ask for a nicer staff from food to nursing," he said.

During time away from the hospital, McClenney works on finances. Fundraising plans are in the works, and Lemois has an account with the National Transplant Assistance Fund.

"You can look it up on line - Jim has a Web page," McClenney said. "We'd appreciate any help we can get with donations, and if anyone can think of anything else to do, or a way to raise funds, we'd appreciate that as well."

More than that, she hopes readers consider organ donation.

"Something like this is the last thing you want, but you never know when you might need help," she said. "Technology has come a long way and we're lucky to have Sentara Heart Hospital here in Norfolk."

Jan Gaillard, jangaillard007@yahoo.com