Karens fight
Donation protected
Karen Fortino Covington had an active, vibrant life as an aqua aerobic instructor, manager of a coffee house, barista and waitress at night.
Then, during a routine doctor appointment on June 14, she was diagnosed with extreme hypertension. This condition had gone untreated for several years and left her in the ICU for several days. Unfortunately, the end result required Karen to give up her busy involved life. But, that didn't get her down; she picked up the pieces of the puzzle of her life, found another job at a doctor's office and began a new journey....
Then, a few months later, Karen noticed a suspicious lump in the back of her throat. After an appointment with a specialist, on October 1, 2013, she was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma cancer on her tonsils and her pallet, and was told the cancer had also spread to five lymph nodes. October 7, after a biopsy, the doctors came back with more bad news; there was a large mass and the diagnosis had progressed to stage 4.
Finally on October 11, Karen's diagnosis had a label: viral cancer. The only good news: it was 90 percent curable.
She will undergo six weeks of radiation. Chemotheraphy treatments are on days 1, 22 and 40. The chemo treatments last four days, each session lasting about two hours. Karen will also have a 24-hour chemo drip during each round of chemo for four days.
Through all these treatments, her insurance won't even begin to penetrate the continually-mounting charges. Karen needs help with medical bills that are already starting to add up. And because of her weakening state, she is unable to work.
The good news is that as she begins this latest journey, misery will never be an option for Karen. All of us who know and love her, know Karen would never ask for help. But, she has so many friends that have expressed a desire to help and the website represents a way that you can.
Thank you for all of your support and generosity through Karen's journey. Thank you so much for writing this great article Jennie . You are awesome!!!
Then, during a routine doctor appointment on June 14, she was diagnosed with extreme hypertension. This condition had gone untreated for several years and left her in the ICU for several days. Unfortunately, the end result required Karen to give up her busy involved life. But, that didn't get her down; she picked up the pieces of the puzzle of her life, found another job at a doctor's office and began a new journey....
Then, a few months later, Karen noticed a suspicious lump in the back of her throat. After an appointment with a specialist, on October 1, 2013, she was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma cancer on her tonsils and her pallet, and was told the cancer had also spread to five lymph nodes. October 7, after a biopsy, the doctors came back with more bad news; there was a large mass and the diagnosis had progressed to stage 4.
Finally on October 11, Karen's diagnosis had a label: viral cancer. The only good news: it was 90 percent curable.
She will undergo six weeks of radiation. Chemotheraphy treatments are on days 1, 22 and 40. The chemo treatments last four days, each session lasting about two hours. Karen will also have a 24-hour chemo drip during each round of chemo for four days.
Through all these treatments, her insurance won't even begin to penetrate the continually-mounting charges. Karen needs help with medical bills that are already starting to add up. And because of her weakening state, she is unable to work.
The good news is that as she begins this latest journey, misery will never be an option for Karen. All of us who know and love her, know Karen would never ask for help. But, she has so many friends that have expressed a desire to help and the website represents a way that you can.
Thank you for all of your support and generosity through Karen's journey. Thank you so much for writing this great article Jennie . You are awesome!!!
Organizer
Liz Fortino Glass
Organizer
Gilroy, CA
