Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Benefit set for Holt Motors employee



HJ-ED-DHJ

August 27, 2007

A “full day of fun” benefit is being planned for liver transplant recipient Mark Blazinski, 48, of Silver Lake.

Blazinski has worked as an automotive technician at Holt Motors in Cokato for 16 years.

He is married to Deb (Kosek), and they live in Silver Lake with their three children – Giles, 18; Sarah, 16: and Amy, 14.

Mark has been off work since last Thanksgiving and has undergone several hospitalizations totaling more than 80 days.

The family’s ordeal began last November when Mark underwent an unrelated gall bladder removal.

However, after that procedure, he developed complications from a compromised liver, eventually receiving a liver transplant on May 24 during a nine-hour surgery.

To get a liver transplant, patients are rated on a numerical scale according to need, and of the thousands of people on the waiting list, whoever is at the top at the time a liver becomes available receives the transplant.

Mark was on the list for less than a month. In the transplant process, the family is given very little information about who or where the organ was donated from.

After the transplant, Mark has since developed complications resulting in extended hospitalizations.

He remains hospitalized at the University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview in Minneapolis, where he has been since July 30.

Mark’s parents are Clem Blazinski and Judy Blazinski of Silver Lake.

His brothers are Greg, Phil, Jim, Brad, Brian, Chris, and Jeremy, and sisters are Linda, Leone, and Laurie.

Deb’s parents are Clarence and Doris Kosek of Silver Lake.

Her siblings and their spouses are Dale and Jolene Kosek, Sue and Steve Yurek, Betty and Dale Wraspir, Marge and Chad Fronk, and Gary Kosek, all of Silver Lake; Linda and Dale Kovar of Mayer; JoAnn and Larry Vandesteeg of Cokato; and Jim and Shelly Kosek of Glencoe.

Benefit Sept. 22

The benefit activities all take place at or outside the Silver Lake Auditorium on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Starting at 1 p.m. will be live old-time concertina music by Fritz Lukes and his band, plus waterball competition among area fire departments. There will be concessions, including pork burgers from Garbers Meats of Lester Prairie.

A silent auction also begins at 1 p.m. inside the auditorium and runs until 7 p.m.

A live auction will be from 3 to 5 p.m.

Any business or person who would like to donate items for either of the auctions may call Holt Motors of Cokato at (320) 286-2176, Quilting Corner/Lisa Thompson of Silver Lake at (320) 327-2278, Kaz’s Auto and Truck Repair of Silver Lake, or any of the committee members.

Donations are requested by Sept. 8 in order to be listed on upcoming flyers.

A spaghetti dinner will be served at the auditorium from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 10, and free for under age 6. They are available in advance at First Community Bank of Silver Lake and Lester Prairie, First National Bank of Cokato, Holt Motors, Kaz’s, and from committee members.

Live music by Cowboys in Sneakers begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is by a free will donation.

A major part of the benefit is a raffle drawing for a fully loaded 2007 Ford Taurus.

Only up to 400 tickets ($100 each) are being sold with one person being drawn to win the car. There are nine other prizes of $100 cash.

That drawing will take place about 8:30 p.m.

Tickets for the car raffle are also available from Holt Motors, Kaz’s, First National Bank in Cokato, First Community Bank in Silver Lake and Lester Prairie, as well as committee members.

Family and friends on the benefit committee are: Terry Mueller, Marvel Erickson, Greg Holt, Lee Dahlquist, Dale Kosek, Jo Vandesteeg, Steve Keith, Linda and Dale Kovar, Marge Fronk, Julie and Mike Cates, Margaret Schaefer, and Al Montgomery.

In addition to the benefit activities, anyone wishing to make a financial donation may send it to Mark Blazinski Benefit, c/o First Community Bank, PO Box 323, Silver Lake, MN 55381.

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