Benefit Recital Planned for Winchester Mother Seeking a Kidney

Kara Yimoyines pictured with sons Hudson (10), Beckett (8) and daughter Vivian. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Finnegan)

WINCHESTER, MA — A benefit recital has been set up for a Winchester mother in search of a Kidney transplant, which also aims to educate others about Lupus and kidney disease.

Kara Yimoyines, a Winchester resident and mother of three, was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 16. Currently, Kara's doctor is preparing her for kidney dialysis as she has a kidney function of 10 percent.

Maggie Finnegan, one of the organizers of the event and the partner of Yimoyines' ex-husband, described how the Winchester community has rallied around Yimoyines.

"The community started rallying around Kara a few months ago when her latest donor fell through and she turned to Facebook for help," Finnegan wrote in an e-mail to Patch. Immediately people came forward offering to be tested as potential donors."

A YouCaring crowdfunding pagehas been set up to help raise awareness of Lupus and kidney disease, as well as to support Yimoyines' future donor and help with travel, housing and loss of income. The page has raised a total of $1,925.

"She is a wonderful person and has embraced me as part of her life and the kids' lives," wrote Finnegan."She and Derek (Yimoyines' ex-husband) have a wonderful parenting relationship, and I think our togetherness and willingness to co-exist happily greatly contributes to a nourishing environment for the kids."

Finnegan, a professional singer, felt it was best to stick with what she knows when determining how she could help. After Yimoyines' latest donor fell through, articles from Boston.com and Boston Magazine were published which sparked additional support. As a result, Finnegan decided it was the right time to host the event.

She will be performing at the event as well as Boston-based composer, conductor and pianist John Kramer. The two have performed at various events across the country and beyond. Kramer is also the music director of the Winchester Unitarian Society, to whom Finnegan was extremely grateful of.

The evening will feature an evening of opera, cabaret, musical theater and art song including pieces from composers such as Gershwin, Sondheim, Mancini, Tchaikovsky and more. The event will take place Saturday night at 6 p.m.

Donations will be accepted through the YouCaring page. For more information on Yimonyines, you can visit the Kidney for Kara Facebook Page.