"A Daughter's Journey, a Mother's Anguish"

Quote from my daughter: "GOD GIVES HIS HARDEST BATTLES TO HIS TOUGHEST SOLDIERS"

This is my daughter, Kristen Eileen Piemontese. She just turned 49 years old. She is a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, a Registered Nurse, and a True Friend.

Kristen has been in a Medical Crisis for the past 5 years. Four years ago, she was diagnosed with NASH, a Non-Alcohol Liver Disease, in its 4th Stage. No cure, she needs a Liver Transplant. As a result of the Liver Disease, she developed Portal Hypertension. She had been navigating the management of the disease for 18 months when suddenly she lost her ability to keep her Oxygen levels operating. She was then diagnosed with Extreme Pulmonary Hypertension. A condition that puts high pressure on her Pulmonary Arteries which is life-threatening. PHT requires Oxygen 24/7 and is only “cured” by a Liver Transplant. Currently, it is being Medically Managed with oxygen and 2 medications, one of which is extremely rare.

Six months after that added burden, she landed in the hospital with a life-threatening low-level Hemoglobin of 3.2 The blood that keeps your body alive was almost non-existent. The normal level in your body is 12-14. She also had nearly no White Cells, the ones that fight infection. Additionally, the Platelets, the part of your blood that prevents bleeding, were almost non-existent. She was a very sick girl. I took her to the hospital on her 47th birthday and she was in for 10 days. It was during this period in time that a Bone Marrow biopsy was performed, and it was discovered she had developed MDS – Myeloplastic Dysplasia. A Bone Marrow Cancer. So, with this triple threat, I took her to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, to be evaluated for a Liver Transplant. She was denied. They said she was too “High Risk”.

So, nearly a year later, medically managing all three of these major life-threatening diagnoses, we were planning to repeat the evaluation process, now her doctors are stating No Transplant, we do not think you’ll survive.

Now the reason for this GoFundMe request: This family needs some serious financial assistance. She currently has 8 “Specialists” that she sees regularly, some monthly, some bi-monthly. Each at a $60 co-pay. The medications that are keeping her alive run appropriately $500.00 per month. She is required to have Scans on a regular basis, to monitor the diseases, all of which have Heavy co-pays. And, she just received the final billing from the Mayo Clinic; $63,000.00 They are a family of four, living on one income. Her doctors have told her she cannot work in her chosen career; Registered Nurse.

The next step is the appointment scheduled at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. She has "outgrown” her doctors here, and her medical status is extremely complex and difficult to manage. Her Oncologist is not sure of the best way to treat the MDS in combination with her other issues. Maybe qualify for a Bone Marrow Transplant? We will be seeking an opinion at Moffitt, and also plan to travel to MD Anderson in Houston for a further opinion. All of this is and has become quite costly and the family is drowning. I travel with her while her husband, Tony, stays home with 8-year-old Jaxson, and 16-year-old Andrew. Cheyenne, her daughter, is 26 and able to support herself.

I, Kathleen McCartney am her mother, and I live in agony daily watching my daughter suffer and not being able to fix it. She is a happy person, she talks A lot, loved her work as an RN, and has coached all three of her children in their sports. She is a devout Christian who has had many conversations with God concerning this situation. She is Never angry with God and does Not blame God for any of this. She just tries to make it another day, until she can be healed. Any help you may offer will be highly appreciated.