SCHERERVILLE | For 10 years, Ron Gonsiorowski watched as a liver disease slowly wore down his wife, Terri Gonsiorowski.

Her condition, primary schlerosing cholangitis, the same liver disorder that killed Bears football great Walter Payton, forced Terri to find a liver donor.

Ron had a feeling he'd be a match. He was tested and was a close enough match that he could give part of his liver to his wife.

The couple, both of whom are 39, underwent the transplant Sept. 5 at University of Chicago Hospitals.

"When they were reunited three days after the surgery, there wasn't a dry eye in the place," family friend Michelle Jallo said.

Although Terri is recovering slowly and complications forced Ron into a longer than expected recovery, the two are doing well, he said. But expenses have added up. Ron, a Hammond firefighter, is still off work and hasn't been able to work his side job since the transplant.

Friends have organized a fundraiser from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Culver's, 980 W. Lincoln Highway, in Schererville. A portion of the food purchased by customers using a family day coupon will benefit the Gonsiorowski family, Jallo said.

Ron said his family is private, but support from friends and family has been plentiful. They've mowed the lawn, picked up groceries and watched their two children while the couple was in the hospital.

"Me and my family, we're just overwhelmed, speechless by how much everyone has stepped up for us," Ron said. "We're not the type of people to ask for anything."

The couple's children, 15-year-old Thomas Gonsiorowski and 10-year-old Eric Gonsiorowski, have helped their parents during the recovery, especially because Ron isn't supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for three months after his surgery.

The couple's story is inspiring, said Dori Sparks-Unsworth, executive director of the Indiana chapter of the American Liver Foundation.

Having a spouse be a match for a transplant is rare. Sparks-Unsworth wasn't aware of any statistics on how frequently it happens, but she has never heard of it before, she said.

"It's certainly a gift to that family," she said.

Jallo introduced the couple about 20 years ago. Their story is a journey of hope and love, she said.

Terri and Ron Gonsiorowski, who have been married for 17 years, moved their family to Schererville a couple of years ago after being lifelong Hammond residents.