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Hello everyone. It is with such sadness and frustration that we share with you that our beloved Karen, or more commonly known as Mrs. CA, has been diagnosed with ALS.
We have created this GoFundMe in the hopes of alleviating any financial burdens on Karen and her husband Duayne and providing them with much-deserved support as they navigate their new reality.
It is our hope that all the love Karen has sent out into the world will be given back to her ten-fold.
Below you will read some words from Karen's daughter Claire to better illuminate you on the essence of Karen and the heartbreak their family has experienced over the past few months...
"A few months ago, our family received the devastating news that my mom is living with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). ALS is a terminal, progressive neurological disease that slowly takes away the ability to move, speak, swallow, and breathe. There is no cure.
She is still here. Still herself. Still trying. And that’s the hardest part to explain. ALS doesn’t take someone all at once, it takes them piece by piece, while they remain fully aware.
My mom is the kind of person who lights up any space she is in. Her spirit is contagious and felt in full color. She leaves trails of magic wherever she goes. Those who know her love her. Those who have met her remember her. She can’t help but pour her heart into everything she does.
My mom taught Grade One for 40 years. She created classrooms filled with magic, colour, rainbows, music, joy, creativity, and safety. In her classroom, school wasn’t just a place to learn, it was a safe place where children felt seen, heard, encouraged, and valued. Through her teaching, generations of kids learned not only to love school, but to believe in themselves.
She taught by example. Her message was always to embrace who you are, to be creative, to be kind, and to take up space in the world unapologetically. She showed the importance of authenticity by living it.
She also went above and beyond in supporting her colleagues. Community matters deeply to her. She shared resources generously, collaborated freely, and offered her ideas without hesitation. To this day, worksheets she created, art projects she developed, and curriculum she designed continue to be used and shared in schools.
This way of showing up extended far beyond her career. She is the kind of friend who drops everything to help without hesitation. She shows up. There are countless people who carry a story of a moment when my mom stood beside them during one of the hardest times in their lives.
As her daughter, I am asking for support in giving back to Mrs. CA some of the care, love, and devotion she has given to her students, parents, colleagues, friends, and community over decades.
This disease is robbing my mom of the very things she loves most, her ability to laugh freely, to dance, to sing, to move, to walk, to talk, create art, and to read. She poured her heart into art, writing, and creative expression, and ALS is now going to steal her ability to use her hands, her voice, and even her laugh. Watching this unfold is heartbreaking.
Over time, everyday life has become increasingly difficult. Eating, speaking, and basic mobility now require medical equipment, adaptations, and constant support. These needs continue to grow as the disease progresses.
The cost of living with ALS is high , not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually. My dad continues to work full-time while also taking on the role of full-time caregiver.
ALS is terminal, and we don’t know what the future holds or how much time we have. My hope is that with support, my dad may be able to take time away from work to be with her, not only as a caregiver, but as her partner. We have also spoken about a bucket list of experiences she hopes to have with the time we have left.
My mom is not someone who asks for help, and neither is my dad. I want to give them the ability to live as fully and comfortably as possible. Accessibility supports and equipment that could help her continue doing some of the things she loves are expensive, yet essential.
More than anything, I want my mom to feel the love that surrounds her now. To hear the stories of the lives she has touched. To be reminded of the legacy she has already created. Knowing the impact she has had gives her strength and meaning as she faces this new reality. She wants to remain positive, live in the now, and stay hopeful while fighting the disease.
We are raising funds to support her care, equipment, and daily needs , but just as importantly, we are sharing her story so she can feel celebrated, honoured, and deeply loved while she is here to hear it.
Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting my mom."
Again, we appreciate any and all support you can provide to Karen and Duayne. Sharing this GoFundMe, donating, reaching out with words of comfort - no act of love is too small or insignificant at a time like this. Thank you all for taking the time to read this.
