A “Bake Sale”, will be held for COTA in honor of Caidyn Kruse, a Forest City- area young adult who needs a Kidney transplant. The event is planned for Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2, at HyVee in Forest City. 21-year-old Caidyn is listed for a Kidney transplant at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Funds are being raised in honor of Caidyn Kruse to assist with transplant-related expenses.

The bake sale will be held at HyVee in Forest City Friday, October 1st from 3:30 to 6:30 and Saturday October 2nd from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Baked goods and seasonal treats will be available for free-will donation. Caidyn was diagnosed shortly after her birth with VACTERLS. VACTERLS stands for Vertebra, Anal, Cardiac, Trachea, Esohogus, Renal, Limbs and Single Umbilical Cord. Caidyn had 7 out of the 8 areas. They included Trachea-esophagus fistula, cardiac, kidney problems and more birth defects. She was airlifted to Rochester, MN, to the Mayo Hospitals and had her first surgery during her first 12 hours of life. That surgery was followed up with her second surgery during the first month and her first open heart surgery when she was 8 months old. Shortly after birth, the doctors predicted she would need a kidney transplant by the time she was finished with high school. She made it through high school without one, but at age 21, she is now in need of a kidney. Local volunteers are raising an estimated $40,000 for COTA in honor of Team Caidyn to assist with transplant-related expenses throughout her lifetime.

“The family and friends of Caidyn Kruse want to encourage everyone to attend our Bake Sale and help give Caidyn a second chance at life,” said Linda Putney, community coordinator for COTA for Team Caidyn. “100% of the profits from the bake sale will assist with transplant-related expenses.”

For more information about the bake sale, or other fundraising and volunteer opportunities, please contact Linda Putney, by phone (641)590- 5784 or elputney4uni@gmail.com.

Caidyn Kruse’s family has asked for assistance from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana. COTA is dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are completely free of charge, and 100% of funds generated by COTA community fundraising campaigns are available for transplant-related expenses.