Katie Norrick Cancer Care
Donation protected
Aubrey Catherine Norrick, shown here with her Brother and Sister on either side of her, goes by the name Katie A little over a month ago; she went to the hospital for something that seemed simple and within days was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer which was Incurable and Inoperable. The cancer had metastasized on her liver. She’s only 39 years old and my oldest daughter. In just a matter of weeks, the cancer has destroyed much of her liver and last night she came home to spend her last days with family in familiar surroundings. Together we face a myriad of feelings every minute of the day: feelings that come and go, things that can’t be put into words but above all else, what we all want most for our Katie now, is to ensure her comfort and quality of life for however long we’re allowed to keep her.
When Katie was admitted to the hospital for the second time after her diagnosis she was uncomfortable, to say the least, but she was able to function rather well. She could sit, stand, walk , etc. The second night she was there, she got up to use the rest room and her femur snapped 4 inches above the knee., It turns out that the cancer had spread to her bones, and her femur had been eroded by the disease to a point that it could no longer support her own weight. This was a terrible set back that stole days from her and delayed starting her treatment. However, she was given a knee replacement in the hopes that once Chemotherapy began, hopefully she would be able to be mobile again. We were hopeful and then she got pneumonia and was put in ICU and more time was lost. Finally, she was strong enough to be able to have her first round of Chemo and eight days later, her second round then it was over. In a little over a month from the day it showed its ugly face, the cancer has stolen Katie’s ability to walk and to breathe on her own. On Monday 4/11, Katie was informed that her Chemo treatments were simply not being effective, and that in-Hospital care would no longer be possible. They asked her to speak with a palliative care team, who has indicated that she needs to accept Hospice care to provide her comfort for the remaining time on this earth. My name is Clay Norrick and together as a family, her mother Cathy Norrick, her sister, Jenny Norrick, her brother C.J Norrick., her devoted boyfriend Kevin Rozwens and I have been working very hard to get her home with us and now that she’s here we’re learning very quickly what we can and can’t do for her.. We have learned that much of the care that Katie needs has been curtailed due to her being under Hospice care. And so, much of her care falls to us, her parents. My wife Cathy suffers from PLS which limits her ability to be hands on in much of Katie’s required care. And at 60 years old, after two very recent major surgeries, I too must accept that Katie needs more around the clock care than we are able to give, despite the numerous helping hands of loving friends and family
We have started this campaign to allow us to pay the cost for regularly scheduled periodic in- home care, transportation, medical expenses and end of life costs. It is important for me to state that we have set a goal that represents what we believe will be the MINIMIUM necessary to keep Katie in our home and take care of her needs properly. Even the smallest donation will help toward paying for one hour of in home personal care which runs at $50 per hour.
Our Katie is a Bold and Loving person, a Sister, a Daughter, a Niece and an Aunt, a God- Mother, a mentor and Friend to so many and is an inspiration to all that know her. She stays uplifted, even to the point of asking her friends to put down their cigarette habits as a final request from her, so they can live long enough to enjoy the years she’s not going to have.
When Katie was admitted to the hospital for the second time after her diagnosis she was uncomfortable, to say the least, but she was able to function rather well. She could sit, stand, walk , etc. The second night she was there, she got up to use the rest room and her femur snapped 4 inches above the knee., It turns out that the cancer had spread to her bones, and her femur had been eroded by the disease to a point that it could no longer support her own weight. This was a terrible set back that stole days from her and delayed starting her treatment. However, she was given a knee replacement in the hopes that once Chemotherapy began, hopefully she would be able to be mobile again. We were hopeful and then she got pneumonia and was put in ICU and more time was lost. Finally, she was strong enough to be able to have her first round of Chemo and eight days later, her second round then it was over. In a little over a month from the day it showed its ugly face, the cancer has stolen Katie’s ability to walk and to breathe on her own. On Monday 4/11, Katie was informed that her Chemo treatments were simply not being effective, and that in-Hospital care would no longer be possible. They asked her to speak with a palliative care team, who has indicated that she needs to accept Hospice care to provide her comfort for the remaining time on this earth. My name is Clay Norrick and together as a family, her mother Cathy Norrick, her sister, Jenny Norrick, her brother C.J Norrick., her devoted boyfriend Kevin Rozwens and I have been working very hard to get her home with us and now that she’s here we’re learning very quickly what we can and can’t do for her.. We have learned that much of the care that Katie needs has been curtailed due to her being under Hospice care. And so, much of her care falls to us, her parents. My wife Cathy suffers from PLS which limits her ability to be hands on in much of Katie’s required care. And at 60 years old, after two very recent major surgeries, I too must accept that Katie needs more around the clock care than we are able to give, despite the numerous helping hands of loving friends and family
We have started this campaign to allow us to pay the cost for regularly scheduled periodic in- home care, transportation, medical expenses and end of life costs. It is important for me to state that we have set a goal that represents what we believe will be the MINIMIUM necessary to keep Katie in our home and take care of her needs properly. Even the smallest donation will help toward paying for one hour of in home personal care which runs at $50 per hour.
Our Katie is a Bold and Loving person, a Sister, a Daughter, a Niece and an Aunt, a God- Mother, a mentor and Friend to so many and is an inspiration to all that know her. She stays uplifted, even to the point of asking her friends to put down their cigarette habits as a final request from her, so they can live long enough to enjoy the years she’s not going to have.
Organizer
Clay Norrick
Organizer
Mesa, AZ
