Frendida Zamora

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is having a staff fundraiser Friday for an employee who recently fell ill.

Frendida Zamora, an office and clinic assistant and Spanish interpreter, was recently diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis, a disease characterized by inflammation and abnormal cell deposits in parts of the nervous system.

The health department will be closing 30 minutes early on Friday, at 4:30 p.m., so the entire staff can participate in the fundraiser. For $5, staffers can throw a cream pie in the face of a health department administrator.

Zamora, 35, of Lawrence, has worked at the health department for the past two years. Her symptoms began in February, when she started experiencing numbness and tingling in the abdomen, face and hands. At one point, she couldn’t move her lips or blink her eyes. She’s now experiencing side effects from her medications, including cramps, weight gain and psychosis. She plans to see a specialist at the Mayo Clinic next month.

The mother of three children — ages 18, 12 and 7 — has already incurred thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Her co-workers have been raising funds for her by selling eggs, tamales and photography sessions. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to accept donations for Zamora’s care. More than $3,000 has been raised thus far.