Care for the Keeler's

Scott and Dawn Keeler are Cranbrook residents who have two beautiful daughters ages 10 & 12. Dawn has worked in nursing for many years and Scott is a valued employee at a local glass shop. They are the type of people who wouldn't want to ask for your help. Dawn just turned 37 last week and has been battling cancer for six years now. In 2011, she was given a devastating diagnosis, when the doctors discovered that she had 2 malignant tumors in her brain. Dawn is not one to give up easily and has been fighting with all her strength and might to survive! Just before Christmas, 2 more brain tumors were discovered but in light of that her family was given a glimmer of hope when her oncologist in Calgary suggested for the first time that she consider a risky brain surgery that had the potential to improve her quality of life. She and Scott carefully considered this option. Keeping in mind that for Dawn, quality of life is more important than quantity, they decided to forge ahead with the brain surgery; but this plan quickly came to an end when it was discovered that the cancer has spread even further. She now has multiple tumors intertwined in her spinal column. She is now loosing mobility in her limbs and her quality of life is declining. Dawn just returned to Cranbrook February 7th, after being in Kelowna receiving radiation treatments. Her family, her daughters, and her husband are all focused on being with her and being there to care for her.

This illness, this life altering path, this cancer...has come with a real financial cost. Since Dr's discovered that she had brain cancer Dawn has been unable to work and help the family financially, this left Scott to be the sole provider. With Dawn's health deteriorating, Scott recently has had to take an unpaid leave from his job indefinitely to care for his wife, to say that this has been a financial strain is an understatement. 

Please help us ease some of the tremendous burden that the Keeler family is feeling at this time. We cannot fight her cancer, and we cannot take away the emotional pain they face, but I do believe that as a community we can help them by relieving some of the financial burden. 

We can help them stay in their home so that Dawn can be cared for in familiar, comfortable surroundings. 

Helping ease the financial strain will provide the way for Scott to take the necessary time off of work to be with Dawn and his girls.