FLORENCE -- Friends and family are rallying around Erma Quarterman to help save her life.

Erma retired as an autism specialist for Florence School District One due to her heart condition.

Friends say a viral infection weakened Erma's heart in 1995 and her condition has steadily gotten worse.

Friends say she's on the heart transplant list, and they're praying that Erma gets a new heart. She's on a lot of medicine and can hardly get around.

She travels to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston every month and has a heart catheterization every three months.

Cooks for Christ is holding a benefit to help Erma with her medical bills, travel and medications.

They will hold a chicken bog plate sale at the West Florence Fire Department on Pineneedles Road, Thursday.

Lunch will be served from 11am until 2pm, dinner from 4pm until 7pm.

Plates are $6 dollars each.

They will even deliver orders of seven or more plates.

Several teachers have donated cakes and pies for a bake sale.

A medical fund has been set up for Erma at First Citizens Bank in Florence. You're asked to make checks payable to Erma's Angels.

For additional information, please contact Diane Brown at (843) 621-2500, Myra Horton at (843) 687-5040, Susie Bennett at (843) 206-2648, Sarah Folkens at (843) 409-1550 or Beverly McKee at (843) 229-0348.