Longtime Ellis resident Celeste Johnson needs a kidney transplant.

After battling the autoimmune disorder lupus for years, Johnson entered end-stage renal failure in 2008.  She’s been undergoing dialysis in Hays 30 hours a week for five years.

Johnson is a single mom of two young teenage girls and has been very active in the Ellis community.  She’s a former teacher, and helped develop the Alliance Foundation and Growing Ellis Parks.

A special fundraiser weekend filled with activities in Ellis will help pay for Johnson’s medical costs.  Sunday’s events included the first ever 5-K Color Run in western Kansas.

Johnson says her life has been on hold the past five years as she awaits a kidney.  Finally, she’s nearly there:

She will have more tests performed this week at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, and undergo a heart catherization July 17th.

“Then, they tell me, it should be two to three weeks until I get my new kidney from my brother,” says Johnson.

Watch the story tonight on Hays Post News, Eagle Community TV Channel 14.