Crowds turn out to help Sammy Johnson

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Hundreds of people flocked to the New Ulm Senior Citizens Center Saturday afternoon for a benefit raffle to help defray medical expenses incurred by a four-month old New Ulm infant.

Johnny Helget played the concertina while people looked at a wide variety of gifts, food and raffle items donated by many New Ulm businesses.

Samantha "Sammy" Johnson was born Nov. 22, 2000 to Scott and Denise Johnson at New Ulm Medical Center Hospital.

Sammy was born with a herniated diaphragm or hole in her diaphragm that prevented her lungs and heart from developing pulmonary vessels. She was immediately transported to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis and has been there since with her parents.

The infant has undergone two operations and other complications including hypertension in her lungs. She breathes through a respirator.

She has the option of a heart and lung transplant in St. Louis, Mo. but the flight there has been considered too dangerous for her to survive at this time.

"Right now, they are doing their best to keep her comfortable (in Childrens' Hospital)," said Sammy's aunt, Michelle Braulick of New Ulm,

The fund raiser will help the Johnsons to remain with their daughter in the Twin Cities.

Braulick was thrilled with the benefit turn out.

"Everybody, businesses and friends have been so wonderful," Braulick said. "Thanks to everybody that spread the word about this with just a weeks notice. It's obviously a success. It's great to live in a community with people that pull together and care. All we want is for my sister and brother-in-law to be able to spend time with their baby. We don't know how much longer she will live."

Many photos of Sammy Johnson were displayed at the Senior Citizens' Center.

"She's really a happy and healthy baby, normal in many ways," Jeannette Olson of New Ulm, another sister of Denise Johnson.

Donations can be made at State Bank & Trust under the Samantha Johnson Fund, Box 189, New Ulm, MN 56073.