Help Karen Eat!

Too often we take the basics of life, such as eating, for granted. For my friend Karen Mortensen, she doesn’t have that luxury. However, together we can change that and for just $8,000 we can give life back to a wonderful person.

My name is Bonney Kratzer and I’ve been friends with Karen since 1967, when she moved to Vancouver to care for her aging parents. At the time I was amazed by her compassion for others and great humor. Over the decades, our friendship deepened, and we’ve been there for each other through life’s many challenges.

For Karen, the notable challenge she now faces is dental work and a prothesis in her mouth to allow her to eat, breathe and talk. The cost for this is $8,000 and with Karen on a fixed income, paying for this is out of reach.

The dental work includes pulling four teeth, adding bone grafts and fitting her with a new obturator prosthesis covering the roof of her mouth. Her old prosthesis is worn out and no longer fits properly.

Medicare does not cover dental work and a health plan she has only covers $1,000 a year in dental charges. After her living expenses at the group home where she lives, she has just $72 a month available. She has no family close by to help.

So I am taking on the task of raising this money to help her, in a way that reflects how she has helped so many others during her life. Karen has lived a charitable life, volunteering to raise money for service groups, from selling fireworks to baking and working in the kitchen for charity events. She regularly donated money and supplies to shelters and mother’s groups.

It is not in Karen’s nature to ask for help. So I will do it for her. This dental prosthesis is essential to Karen’s life; without it the quality of her remaining years will be painful and challenging. With your help, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Much of Karen’s life was giving to people that she would never meet. I’m asking you to do the same. Please share this with your family and friends, and give what you can. Every dollar will help us reach the goal of $8,000. Together we can give back the compassion Karen has provided to so many others.

Thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please contact me, Bonney Kratzer.