Memorial Fund for Linda O Connors Family

Original campaign goal:

Hello kind and caring people,  I have a loving request.

As many of you may have heard, our dear friend Linda O’Connor became incredibly ill last winter. She nearly lost her life, but thanks to the care of the staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital, she made it through.


Linda’s journey started when she noticed an uncomfortable feeling in her spleen that slowly changed into  a pressure on her trachea. This pressure caused her esophagus to close making it virtually impossible to take in food and nourishment.  The pressure and pain eventually spread becoming debilitating  on her already fractured back from a previous injury.  It prevented her from sleeping, eating, walking and her quality of life declined.  Unfortunately, after multiple tests, biopsies and a long wait, in January 2019 Linda was finally diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma B.

Over the last year Linda has been in and out of the hospital with many complications. She has undergone many chemotherapy treatments to fight the cancer, but the tumour has not responded the way her doctors had hoped.  Linda’s team of doctors looked exhaustively at other options, but as the chemotherapy was unsuccessful, she was not a candidate for most treatments.  However, they have much hope that an up-and-coming cancer treatment called CAR T Therapy (immunotherapy) may be able to help, with an excellent success rate of about 80%!

CAR T Therapy, involves collecting and using a patient's own immune cells to treat the  cancer. The therapy works by taking the patient’s T cells, which are the cells in charge of immune response, and exposing them to a disarmed virus.  Using genetic engineering, the cells are made to produce receptors on their surface that find and attach to specific tumour cells.   This allows the T cells to specifically target and attack the cancer cells directly.  The cells are then expanded in the laboratory and infused back into the patient. The desired outcome is that the cells continue to expand in the body and effectively kill off the tumour cells using their new super seek and destroy power!


This treatment is Linda’s last safety net. Unfortunately for her and her family, the therapy is not yet approved in Canada and is only being used on a trial basis in Vancouver which Linda was denied access to due to the fact that she also has MS.  But we’re so happy to share that Linda has been accepted into the program in Seattle and begins her treatment as soon as possible.  They are waiting anxiously for the start date estimated to happen within the next two weeks.

Linda will need to be in Seattle for a minimum of 8 weeks, much likely longer.  While insurance is covering the cost of the majority of the medical bills, there is no coverage for travel, accommodations, food, her husbands lost wages, extra help with the home and kids, nor the caretaker that Linda will need to be there with her.  There are numerous and serious side effects of CAR T Therapy, including severe illness and neurological issues, we know Linda's strength will see her through any bumps such as these.  As there is minimal hospital admittance for the therapy with the exception at 2-4 weeks when they put the cells back in, Linda will need around the clock care while undergoing the treatment.


Why does Linda need a Go Fund Me?

Lets start with currency conversion. While Linda is in the U.S., she will automatically lose nearly 25% - 33% of funds due to the Canadian vs US dollar.

Travel - 
Linda lives on Vancouver Island BC, Canada. The CAR T Therapy is located in Seattle, Washington.  She and especially Mike will be travelling by ferry with their car.  Ferries and fuel will be costly.

Income - 
Linda’s husband Mike has not been working since Linda’s diagnosis  almost a year ago. He will need to accompany Linda to Seattle as well as travel back and forth home to be there for their daughters.

Accommodations - 
While there is a period that Linda will be admitted to hospital during treatments.  For most of  the therapy, she will be an outpatient and will require comfortable hotel accommodation close to the hospital for a minimum of 8 weeks during CAR-T Therapy, for both her and her full time care giver.  Hopefully they will find accommodation with the Cancer Alliance which will be somewhat less costly than staying at a hotel, however this is not a guarantee and we need to plan for every eventuality.  The very minimum she will be paying for accomodation is $100 usd night, for the Cancer Alliance and $140 usd night for a hotel.

Eating - 
As Linda will not be admitted during most of her time in Seattle, during these times she  will be required to pay for all food while there, for both she and her caregiver.

Emergency Fund - 
Should Linda need medical attention outside the scope of her treatment (ICU, ambulance, prescriptions etc), this is NOT covered by her  out-of-province Health Care nor travel medical insurance


Linda has given so much time and energy to our community throughout the years, even while she battles this cancer.  We’re coming together to ask you to give back to her, her daughters and her husband Mike, who has amazingly taken the burden of all home life responsibility and caretaking on his shoulders.  Allow them to get back to life before this diagnosis.


After a year of emotional turmoil, stress, missed work, and medical expenses Linda is incredibly anxious about the toll this treatment will have on her family.  Let’s help her rest a little easier and focus a little more on getting well by taking away just one of her worries for her.  Please donate.  Please share this fundraiser far and wide.  We can think of no one more deserving of our help than Linda.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to read.  And thank you for your support.  Please stay tuned for updates on Linda’s progress.  
Let’s help this family come out the other side of this and return to a normal life with as little burden as possible. <3

With gratitude and blessings,  



WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO HELP?


Pause for a few moments of the day and continue to send your love, support and positive intentions in your hearts, minds and spirits as Linda and her family gainfully work towards health and normalcy.