‘The scariest house’ in Oceanside spreads hope in search for kidney donor
In the middle of the frightening decorations stands a sign urging visitors to consider becoming living donors and to learn more about kidney donation.
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Jessica Wertling and her fiancé, Josh Strauss, have turned their Oceanside home into a Halloween destination filled with clowns, skeletons and creepy creatures for the past three years.
But this year, the display carries a deeper meaning. Wertling’s father, Todd, is battling end-stage renal disease – and she’s using the Halloween attraction to spread awareness about the need for living kidney donors.
“Our neighbors have been amazing,” Wertling said. “So many people stop by each day to talk to us and help spread our message.”
In the middle of the frightening decorations stands a sign urging visitors to consider becoming living donors and to learn more about kidney donation.
Despite the serious message, the house remains a favorite among neighborhood kids, who call it “spooky,” “cool” and “the scariest house” in town.
The display is open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. leading up to Halloween. On Oct. 31, the couple plans to keep it running all day.
Wertling hopes the attention helps lead to a donor match for her father. Anyone interested in donating can fill out a questionnaire.
