NATCHEZ — Natchez twins Georgia and George Minor have always been close, but Georgia’s life altering condition made them even closer.

Georgia is in need of a heart and lung transplant because of complications with pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects arteries in the lungs and the heart.

To help fund her transplant, the Minor family will host a benefit program for Georgia at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Zion Hill No. 1 Baptist Church where they will take monetary donations to assist the family with medical bills and expenses.

“It was devastating to me,” George said. “I want to question God, but at the same time, I know God is still good and will take care of her just as He promises.”

Georgia was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2010 after collapsing while playing Tennis in Duncan Park.

However, Georgia’s finance, Ralph Daniel, said he is still trying to determine what caused Georgia to have such a condition.

“The Irony of this whole sickness is that Georgia used to be an active athlete at South Natchez High School,” Daniel said. “To have it and not know the origin of it is the big puzzle piece.”

George said he shared similar symptoms with Georgia in 2010, but he was not diagnosed, thus putting all of his attention toward his twin sister.

“I didn’t understand what was going on at first, I figured it was just something passing through,” George said. “As time went on, she still had to go see different doctors in different hospitals until they found something wasn’t right with her.”

Georgia was forced to retire from Walmart in Natchez in 2010 because of her condition, which causes a shortness of breath while being active, chest pain and fatigue.

However, Georgia said she can still function.

“I can do everything I need to do,” Georgia said. “Some days are better than others.”

George and Georgia said they talk with each other now more than ever

“We’ve always been there for each other,” George said. “We all get tied up in different things, but when it comes time to help one another we all see to it that it gets done.”

George and Georgia are the youngest two out of ten children, but lost another set of twins some time ago.

“We were all sitting here two weeks ago when Georgia announced that she had to have a heart and lung transplant,” George said.

Georgia will travel to North Carolina the following Monday after the benefit program to have a study conducted on her before receiving the transplant.

Georgia spends her time with not only her brother, but also her finance Daniel and her aunt and uncle.

Family is the biggest support system, Georgia said.