Help Christina until she's able to work again.
Donation protected
Dear friends,
The time has come to share with you my sister’s story and ask for your help. In October 2020, my little sister, Christina Perentesis (Thea Titi, to her niece and nephews) was diagnosed with an aggressive type of bladder cancer. She started chemotherapy
in Toronto at Sunnybrook Hospital in late November. Each time she had chemo, she would end up in Huntsville hospital, with an infection. We almost lost her twice due to sepsis. Instead of killing the cancer, chemo was killing Christina’s hemoglobin, actually depleting it and causing her to be bed ridden and exhausted.
On March 16, 2021, Christina underwent a 6 hour major operation which removed her entire bladder, uterus, ovaries, part of her vagina, two lymph nodes and a kidney. She has 60 staples running from her breastbone to her pelvic bone. During the first few days in the hospital, Christina was on a road to recovery, then she got a C-difficile bacterial infection. This infection caused her bowels to stop working, she had to have a tube inserted from her nose to her stomach to help remove any waste. This was in there for 2 days. Once they took it out, she felt ok for 1 day, and then it had to go back in and has been in there ever since. But it got worse.
Christina began accumulating fluid in her abdomen, which restricted her breathing and she requires oxygen, she also has gone into renal failure. Yes, the only kidney she has has stopped working. She was in CICU for 3 days where it was quite scary, actual f-ing scary as she had trouble breathing which caused her to develop anxiety (anyone who knows Christina, knows, she’s not an anxious person). The lack of support from family played a huge role on her mentally - due to Covid she was only allowed 1 visitor 2 times a week - this has now changed due to a lot of push back and a lot of begging Doctors are baffled as to why her kidney went into renal failure, why the accumulation of fluid in her abdomen?, she’s a “puzzle”, as doctors have put it. Each day they remove 2-3 litres of fluid from her abdomen and another 2 litres via the dialysis. Yesterday we received the good news that the fluid in her abdomen did not contain cancerous cells and that Christina is cancer free for the time being - but the doctors are still baffled as to what is happening with her body. She has a long road to recovery and won’t be back to work for at least 6 months to a year.
Anyone who knows Christina, T, Titi, has experienced her kindness, compassion, empathy for others pure, giving heart, and, of course, her wonderful sarcasm. She loves life, loves her family. loves her photography and loves working at The Family Place Restaurant with her “second family”. Christina WILL get back on her feet, but she needs some help until she does. Any donation amount would be greatly appreciated.
I will be providing weekly updates on Christina as she’s still weak and not able to type and send messages yet.
Sincerely,
Maria Perentesis Karakoulas
The time has come to share with you my sister’s story and ask for your help. In October 2020, my little sister, Christina Perentesis (Thea Titi, to her niece and nephews) was diagnosed with an aggressive type of bladder cancer. She started chemotherapy
in Toronto at Sunnybrook Hospital in late November. Each time she had chemo, she would end up in Huntsville hospital, with an infection. We almost lost her twice due to sepsis. Instead of killing the cancer, chemo was killing Christina’s hemoglobin, actually depleting it and causing her to be bed ridden and exhausted.
On March 16, 2021, Christina underwent a 6 hour major operation which removed her entire bladder, uterus, ovaries, part of her vagina, two lymph nodes and a kidney. She has 60 staples running from her breastbone to her pelvic bone. During the first few days in the hospital, Christina was on a road to recovery, then she got a C-difficile bacterial infection. This infection caused her bowels to stop working, she had to have a tube inserted from her nose to her stomach to help remove any waste. This was in there for 2 days. Once they took it out, she felt ok for 1 day, and then it had to go back in and has been in there ever since. But it got worse.
Christina began accumulating fluid in her abdomen, which restricted her breathing and she requires oxygen, she also has gone into renal failure. Yes, the only kidney she has has stopped working. She was in CICU for 3 days where it was quite scary, actual f-ing scary as she had trouble breathing which caused her to develop anxiety (anyone who knows Christina, knows, she’s not an anxious person). The lack of support from family played a huge role on her mentally - due to Covid she was only allowed 1 visitor 2 times a week - this has now changed due to a lot of push back and a lot of begging Doctors are baffled as to why her kidney went into renal failure, why the accumulation of fluid in her abdomen?, she’s a “puzzle”, as doctors have put it. Each day they remove 2-3 litres of fluid from her abdomen and another 2 litres via the dialysis. Yesterday we received the good news that the fluid in her abdomen did not contain cancerous cells and that Christina is cancer free for the time being - but the doctors are still baffled as to what is happening with her body. She has a long road to recovery and won’t be back to work for at least 6 months to a year.
Anyone who knows Christina, T, Titi, has experienced her kindness, compassion, empathy for others pure, giving heart, and, of course, her wonderful sarcasm. She loves life, loves her family. loves her photography and loves working at The Family Place Restaurant with her “second family”. Christina WILL get back on her feet, but she needs some help until she does. Any donation amount would be greatly appreciated.
I will be providing weekly updates on Christina as she’s still weak and not able to type and send messages yet.
Sincerely,
Maria Perentesis Karakoulas
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Perentesis Karakoulas
Organizer
Huntsville, ON
Christina Perentesis
Beneficiary
