Benefit Scheduled for Heart Recipient

Joseph and Linda Blaha lived in Jefferson Township for 26 years and raised four children, Joseph, John, James and Jessica, before recently retiring to Pennsylvania. However, plagued with many years of heart-related health crises, enjoying retirement was interrupted when doctors told Joe that he needed a heart transplant. The senior Blaha received a new heart through an anonymous donor on Sept. 2. However, the scenario since then hasn’t been all rosy.

“My dad is improving, but it’s been a real roller coaster,” said Blaha’s daughter Jessica. “He’s been in and out of ICU and now he’s at Good Shepherd Cardiac Rehabilitation in Philadelphia.”

Joe’s wife Linda has been staying nearby at a home the hospital has set up for relatives of transplant patients.

Jessica said that after the surgery, her 63-year-old father couldn’t do anything on his own, and had to relearn everything, including how to walk. He had been on and off a respirator several times, and just had a tracheotomy tube removed a couple of weeks ago.

Now, his kidneys are failing, possibly due to the anti-rejection medicine he will need to take for the rest of his life.

“But he’s the most positive person I know,” Jessica said. “He tells me all the time that being positive is half the battle.”

Joe should be able to go home within the next week or so, but will need to continue outpatient rehab and dialysis for his kidneys three times a week.

The Blaha family is looking to their former neighbors, friends, and acquaintances to support a Have a Heart Benefit in honor of Joe Blaha on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Madonna Hall at St. John Vianney R.C. Church located at 2823 Route 23 in Stockholm, NJ from 1 to 5 p.m.  Proceeds from the event will be used to help offset the medical bills the family is facing.

The event will feature a buffet luncheon with entertainment, raffles, and a 50/50 to help the Blaha family. Tickets are $30 per adult and $10 for children 2 and under and can be pre-purchased by writing a check payable to HelpHopeLive with a note in the memo section “In Honor of Joe Blaha” and mailing it to Have a Heart Benefit, P.O. Box 742, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438.  Pre-purchased tickets will be available for pick-up at the door on the day of the event, but individuals without tickets can purchase a ticket at the door.  For more event information contact HaveAHeartforJoeBlaha@gmail.com or call 973-610-1999.

Donations of electronics, a fine wine gift basket, gift certificates, or gift cards for area businesses for giveaways at the event are also being accepted. Please contact Lori Esposito at HaveaHeartforJoeBlaha@gmail.com or call 201-317-9355.