In Memory of Kristina Johnson

Let me tell you about one of the most dedicated, hard working, compassionate woman I know. She is always there when someone is in need and I truly believe she lives her life to help others. Kristina has been a health care aide for fourteen years; seven years in community home support and seven years in long term care. She is also a single mom of one amazing little guy.

I met Kristina while working day shift at a care home in Ladysmith, we worked together for a long time and when she went onto maternity leave we kept in touch. When Kristinas leave was over she worked a little longer on day shift but struggled with leaving her son, she switched to night shift so she could come home from work and spend her days with her boy, raising him to be kind and gentle. At four years old he already shows compassion and empathy, of course Kristina is very proud of who he is becoming.

At the end of last April, Kristina became fully jaundiced, and anemic. She couldn't catch her breath from the anemia, the doctors in emergency thought there was a clot in her lungs they ordered a CT scan but instead of a clot they found a 16mm mass; the size of large olive. 

On May 6th 2021, my beautiful friend Kristina received the diagnosis of stage three pancreatic carcinoma with bile duct obstruction in the head of the pancreas. The tumor is currently inoperable due to the portal and splenic vein being wrapped around the mass. After the diagnosis Kristina waited two months to get an appointment with the BC Cancer Clinic in Victoria.

When she did finally get in Kristina and her oncology team made a goal to shrink the tumor then remove it if possible but in June she had uncontrolled bleeding which resulted in a week long hospital stay, they never found the reason for bleeding. 

One week in July called for her to have three surgeries all with complications which resulted in chemotherapy being pushed back to August.

Kristina is now on her seventh round of chemo which consists of being hooked up to a machine that pumps Folfirinox, a combination of four different drugs, into her body for five hours at the hospital and then for 46 more hours at home only to have to go back to the hospital to get unhooked, leaving her extremely ill and exhausted. The tumor is currently 5.7mm but could still grow or spread. Kristina also has two nodules in her lungs which are non cancerous but doctors are keeping an eye on them as in May there was only one nodule.

Thane started kindergarten this year and her main priority is to make it to his highschool graduation, I'd like to help her as she has helped so many others. I am starting this gofundme to assist her through Christmas, I'm also hopeful to raise enough to send her on a deluxe spa treatment and a few days of nothing but relaxation.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated and if you are unable to help financially please feel free to share!

Thank you so much for your kindness

❤❤