Heating Hearts - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Tremia Denise Appling

Nominated By: Johnnie Sue Todd

Tremia has been ill many years and was diagnosed with Lupus 10 years ago. She had a stem cell transplant, harvested from herself, in Chicago almost two years ago, but all symptoms have returned.

She is handicapped with lung damage, vasculitis, vision loss in one eye and thyroid and adrenal problems. Within months after her stem cell transplant she lost all the skin off of her face, leaving her face blood raw for months. She still has complications. She had weight gain from high dose steroid which brought on diabetes. She is now on chemo and IVIG for the immune system, and has been on chemo before and after the stem cell transplant.

Her heater is 19 years old, and having problems. Due to high medical bills she owes, winning this would be a blessing.

Robin Jowers

Nominated By: Toni Carney

Touching hearts throughout the year and her life comes naturally to my sister. Since being reunited 15 years ago I have learned that no matter what life brings you, it's giving back that matters most. Her unselfish acts of helping homeless people by giving PB&J with her husband downtown, donating clothes to my less fortunate students, lending a room of her house to misplaced teens, giving her last dollar to the man on the street; it's life circumstance that not only makes you tougher, but softer as well.

Her heat and air has been out for one year now and I have not heard her complain one time. Yesterday as we watched a homeless man outside with a two year old and tears filled her eyes. We had to discuss how we couldn't spend Christmas Eve together and exchange presents as we have in the past for the last 15 years because she was trying to replace her heat and air, I felt a need to help and hopelessness, just like the man on the street we couldn't help. I felt some hope when I saw the ad this morning. I know from experience, there are so many needy families out there. I would just like to see one family be blessed by their giving hearts for all they do for others. This would be the best Christmas present I could ever give her, one from my heart.

Donna Hollis

Nominated By: Andrea Shelder

My mom, who is now 60, has been unemployed for the last year and a half. She has depleted her savings and her 20-something year old heating system is on its last leg. She doesn't have the means to have it replaced or even repaired if it should fail this winter.

My mom's house is also home to my brother and his wife, who also have not been able to find work. I have been making their mortgage payment for them when I can, but that leaves me financially stretched as well and I cannot afford to help with any unexpected expenses that may arise.

My mom has worked hard her entire life - first as a stay-at-home mom raising my brother and me, and she has done everything in her power to take care of her family and stay off of government assistance. She has a lot of pride and will never ask for help. Even as her daughter, finding out if she is in need of something is like pulling teeth because she really doesn't want a handout.

She has had a run of bad luck and a lot of times has to go without the essentials that everyone else takes for granted. I am really hoping that some good things can start happening for her, maybe staying warm this winter will be the beginning of better things to come.