Our family is reaching out for support as our mother Karen Conlan, begins an unexpected and heartbreaking battle with late-stage pancreatic cancer.
Karen first began feeling unwell all the way back in June, experiencing subtle but persistent symptoms that slowly worsened. After months of uncertainty, her diagnosis was confirmed in mid-November, changing the course of her life- and ours- overnight.
Karen is the heart and anchor of our family. She and our father built a quiet, hardworking life together on their small farm in California, where days are shaped by blooming flowers, loyal dogs at her side, and the steady rhythm of ranch work. For 13 years, Karen served as a special needs teacher's aide, then transitioned to the After School Program, pouring patience and gentle guidance into children who depended on her. She has always been someone who gives: her time, her compassion, her strength.
The Woman Behind the Diagnosis
Karen's life has always been about caring for others and finding beauty in simple things:
She tends to one of the most beautiful flower gardens in the area- an explosion of color that reflects her own warmth.
She thrives on ranch work and training her dogs, helping keep the farm running through every season, no matter how tough the day.
These passions have shaped her identity and her joy.
Her Treatment Plan
Because late-stage pancreatic cancer progresses rapidly, Karen's treatment plan is intensive and wide ranging. She is currently preparing for:
Insulin Potentiated Therapy
Homeopathic Chemotherapy
Immune Stimulation Treatments
Detoxification Therapies
These treatments will require Karen to travel regularly from California to Nevada, adding physical strain and significant cost. She is now unable to work, and the combination of medical expenses, travel, and daily farm responsibilities has created an overwhelming financial burden.
How it's Affecting Our Family
Karen's two daughters are doing everything they can to support her:
One lives two hours away and makes frequent trips to help with appointments, errands, and daily care.
The other lives in Washington, is a military spouse, and travels with her two young children to spend extended time helping their grandmother.
Karen’s husband has been by her side every step of the way, but this journey has taken a significant toll on him as well. He faces a two-hour daily commute, and in order to help care for Karen, attend appointments, and manage the realities of her treatment, he has had to cut back his work hours. At the same time, the physical demands of the ranch continue, causing added stress and physical demand on him now that his best ranch hand is sick. The emotional weight of caring for his wife has added an immense layer of strain during an already heartbreaking time.
They’re balancing work, long distances, and emotional stress—all while trying to support Karen in the fight of her life.
Why We’re Asking for Help
Your generosity will directly support:
Karen’s treatment and medical expenses
Travel between California and Nevada
Assistance maintaining the farm during her treatment
Comfort-focused therapies that improve her quality of life
Karen has spent her entire life giving—to her family, her students, her animals, and her community. Now, in this most difficult chapter, we humbly ask for help in giving back to her.
Any donation, no matter the size, or even sharing this fundraiser, makes a meaningful difference.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with Karen and our family during this uncertain and deeply challenging time