Organizations work to make wishes come true for Marfan patient

ROLLING PRAIRIE, Ind. -- A Rolling Prairie woman is battling Marfan syndrome.

Jen Dalkowski has endured countless surgeries to remove aneurysms from her weakened body, but she keeps defeating the odds. It might have something to do with her incredible strength.

Marfan syndrome is a disorder of the connective tissue. Connective tissue holds all parts of the body together and helps control how the body grows.

Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, Marfan syndrome features can occur in many different parts of the body.

About 1 in 5,000 people have Marfan syndrome.

At 42-years-old, Dalkowski has already beaten the odds, but doctors think at this point she doesn't have much time left.

She has endured 12 different surgeries to remove separate aneurysms. In December of 2010 when she had her last surgery in the state of Texas she believes she contracted MRSA. 

Sharon Mansfield, Jen's Mother said after her last operation, "She just came home the day before Christmas because she wanted to spend Christmas at home with us (they thought) this was her last Christmas, but I have had two years. As she told the doctors, ‘Hell no, I'm not willing to die yet.’"

That's why two organizations are granting her the trip of a lifetime.

Both Center for Hospice Care and the Dream Foundation are providing Jen and her family with an RV to take down to Indianapolis, along with tickets to get into the pits and behind the scenes.

They are even working to get Jeff Gordon to actually meet with them.

And Dalkowski's dream was granted. On Sunday at the Brickyard 400 she got to meet the four-time series champion. 

 


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