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Get a deal and save a life at fundraiser tag sale

Keith Carpenter
By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



WILBRAHAM The family of Keith Carpenter wants to give others the opportunity he never had. The 43-year-old was diagnosed with amyloidosis at the end of June 2005, and he passed away two months later the illness too advanced and present in many of his organs.

That October his family hosted a fundraiser for the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Center. Three years and $7,540 in donations later, the Pennington/Carpenter clan is back and armed with more literature, knowledge and a stronger drive to educate others before it is too late for them, as well. From Aug. 15 to 17, they will host their Fourth Annual Benefit Tag Sale for Amyloidosis Research.

Bredine Pennington, mother of Carpenter, said the primary purpose of their tag sales is to raise awareness. There are only three major U.S. amyloidosis treatment centers Boston University Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Memorial Sloan-Kittering Cancer Center in New York and the disease is often misdiagnosed. It is an organ system disease caused by deposits of amyloid protein fibrils in one or more organs causing the organ to malfunction. It most often affects the heart, kidneys, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

According to mayoclinic.com, because of the wide range of signs and symptoms amyloidosis difficult to diagnose. A person may not even have any symptoms at all. Some signs and symptoms include swelling of the ankles and legs, weakness, weight loss, shortness of breath, diarrhea, skin changes, difficulty swallowing and severe fatigue.

Carpenter was diagnosed while undergoing gall bladder surgery. Doctors became concerned about his liver during surgery and did a biopsy, which is the only way amyloidosis can be diagnosed. A special red dye is used to see the amyloid protein.

Pennington said her son's death has resulted in a "big, big loss" in their family. He left behind his wife, Christine, three children and two siblings.

"If it's caught in time they can treat it," Pennington said. "With my son, it was in all of his organs."

In 2006, Carpenter's family traveled to Boston University Medical Center during Patient's Day and presented a check to the facility for $4,200. They had the opportunity to hear lectures, learn about current research and tour the new research facility. Pennington said they also were able to see a biopsy of the amyloid protein through a microscope.

The tag sale will have informational packets that will be available over the course of the three-day sale, including a booklet supplied by the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation, named for Miller, Carlisle Events co-founder.

Monetary donations as well as items for the tag sale are currently being accepted. Boston University Medical Center cards will be available should someone like to make a monetary donation in memory or honor of someone else.

The Fourth Annual Benefit Tag Sale for Amyloidosis Research will take place, rain or shine, at 600 Tinkham Rd. in Wilbraham. For more information or to learn how you can donate items to the tag sale, contact Pennington at 301-6194.