Benefit in Fonda to help parishioner who received heart transplant

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
October 19, 2006

FONDA - A chili supper benefit will be held for Fonda Our Lady of Good Counsel parishioner, Larry Neppl, on Oct.21.

Larry had a heart transplant on Sept. 2 of this year. He mentioned that he had waited for a new heart for a little over four years.

"I prayed for one and went to church," said Larry. "What else can you say? I prayed that God would give me a new heart. Everything worked out."

He continued that he felt great when he found out that he was going to receive a heart.

"I felt very lucky, very fortunate," said Larry. "I have had four biopsies so far and each one of them has been a zero rejection, so everything has been going very good."

Although the progress is good, there are still several times that Larry will have to travel back to the doctor.

"There are a lot of hidden costs and expenses," said Larry. "It is a long way from being done."

The benefit will be begin at 5:30 p.m. and go until 7:30 p.m. at the KC Hall on Main St. in Fonda. People from the parish and community are donating food and paper products.

There will be a free-will offering. The event is sponsored by the friends of Larry Neppl.

"We are doing it to defray the medical costs related to his surgery," said Kerry Noethe, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel. "He had to spend one month in a hotel so he could go to and from the hospital for tests. There will be many trips back and forth to Minneapolis and all of the hidden costs that you don't think of - transportation, hotel. We wanted to help them."

According to Noethe, a lot of support has come from Larry's job and Jody's (his wife) co-workers are going to help with the supper.

"This is what Jesus taught," said Noethe. "They would be the first to help someone else in need. It is just what you do, especially in small communities where you know everyone more intimately. They are in need, and this is what we want to do."

Larry feels fortunate that his community wants to do something like this for him and his family.

Donations may be sent to Kerry Noethe, 11271 630th St., Fonda, IA 50540 or Deb Miller, PO Box 247, Fonda, IA 50540.