Amid a procession of haunts, monsters and masqueraded adults, one zombie rode atop a motorized mobility scooter.
Along with her barrage of "lung-hungry zombies," better-known as her family and friends, Oklahoma City resident Carol Craig participated in Oklahoma Gazette's Ghouls Gone Wild Halloween parade on Oct. 23, passing out candy and fundraiser flyers. Craig has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an illness which gets worse over time as it makes it progressively difficult for the host to breathe.
"We thought it would be really cool to have a person show that they're willing to work hard in order to fight this disease by getting out in the parade and having fun," said her husband, James Craig. "Yeah, she had to carry oxygen with her, but she was still able to do it."
Diagnosed in 1999, her condition has worsened and a lung transplant is required for her survival. Medical expenses and costs for prescription medication will cost the family more than $500,000 within the first year following the transplant surgery.
To offset these costs, the family hosts several fundraising events throughout the community. Past events have included garage sales, poker runs and a crawfish boil.
"We feel really fortunate that we get the support that we do from the community," James Craig said. "It's a long endeavor to where you actually get the transplant, but lots of people really want to help."
The family continues to host other fundraising opportunities, from lottery pools and a large-scale garage sale to an idea that may land them in Guinness World Records. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.transplants.org/donate/carolcraig or www.facebook.com/HelpCarolBreathe. "Ta'Chelle Jones
