Benefit set for Saturday for girl awaiting heart transplant

Gwen Lewis is bubbly and happy like a lot of children who are 2 ½. 
 
“She is always smiling and having a good time,” said Gwen’s uncle, Jacob Spicer. “She has been consistent throughout this whole thing. She is always happy.”
 
Gwen is currently awaiting a heart transplant at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Her parents, Charlene and JT, used to live in North Bend with the latter being a graduate of North Bend Central High School. 
 
“They were both on the fire department in town and they are pretty well known here,” Spicer said. 
 
The community is conducting the  “Little Miss Gwen’s Spaghetti Jamboree” starting at 5 Saturday night at the North Bend City Auditorium, 741 N. Main St. A spaghetti dinner with dessert will be served. There is no cost for the dinner, but freewill donations will be accepted to support the Lewis family. 
 
A raffle for larger items and a silent auction for smaller items will also be conducted at the event. 
 
Spicer, who is one of the event organizers, said Gwen was born with a heart defect.
 
“There was something wrong with her valves,” he said. “They got that all fixed up and then this — the heart failure that she is experiencing now — came out of nowhere.” 
 
Gwen is remaining at Children’s awaiting a transplant.
 
“She can’t leave the hospital until after the transplant happens because she isn’t stable enough to go home,” Spicer said. “She is a real outgoing kid. She loves everybody and she is just a great little kid.” 
 
The family has appreciated the generosity of area businesses and individuals that have donated items for the auction and raffles. 
 
“It is overwhelming how many people have come up to help,” Spicer said. “It is really, really nice.”
 
Among the things that will be available are gift cards from local businesses, including the North Bend Meat Locker. There are tickets for the Garth Brooks concert scheduled for August at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, a television, a knife from Maple Creek Cutlery and many other items. 
 
“We’re just really thankful for the support and the fact that everyone is coming together to help out with this whole thing,” Spicer said. “It has been a blessing.”