STAND UP & WALK!
by Karen StrickholmDonation protected
SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE!
Who is Karen Strickholm?
· Karen lives in Truth Or Consequences, NM with her two rescue dogs, Chico and Babe and a wonderfully odd-ball new collection of friends and now, medical support team members.
· She ran a successful national marketing/PR company in Los Angeles and then Santa Fe.
· Now unable to work, Karen is trying to recover from a decade of medical and financial crises.
· Karen has helped others all her life. Now she needs your help.
What happened to Karen?
· Karen had a rare brain tumor since birth that slowly grew on her pituitary gland.
· For years, she battled unexplained weight gain, opportunistic infections, fatigue, asthma, brittle bones, chronic pain, and severe inflammation which caused a height loss of 3.5”.
· In 2008, her condition was finally diagnosed at age 50, followed by her first surgery to remove the benign but devastating tumor.
· After a brief recovery, the tumor returned, more lethal than before. A second surgery in 2011 left her in a coma with collapsed lower lungs, fighting for her life.
· She won that battle, but shortly afterward, Karen suffered a usually fatal pulmonary emboli shower - her second near-death experience.
· After intensive care and rehab, she was sent home in a wheelchair and on oxygen, a condition Karen remained in for several years.
· Upon doctor’s orders, she moved to a lower altitude that would help her lung recovery.
· Her day is now scheduled around taking a complicated regimen of medications and supplements to replace missing hormones and support her healing lungs, as well as a new, aggressive rehabilitation program six days a week.
· Karen was declared medically home-bound a year ago.
Why is Karen in financial straits?
· Karen lost substantial income because she has only been able to work part-time since 2008.
· All her savings and retirement funds have been spent on medical costs over the last decade.
· She was able to get by until the last 2+ years, when she hasn’t been able to work at all.
· Because she was successful in business, Karen ironically does not qualify for any aid, even though her out-of-pocket medical expenses place her in poverty.
· Her current medical bills are so high that she currently gets further behind every month.
· She requires medical aides for basic life activities – bathing and dressing, carrying, food prep, cleaning, errands – a monthly cost she must pay out of pocket.
· Karen’s car is dead, and the town’s only taxi service closed. She needs medical transport to attend multiple rehab appointments one hour away – another out-of-pocket cost.
· As a rare disease patient, Karen does not have any national support network to lean on for home care and medical travel – common benefits available to patients with cancer, HIV or MS.
· Karen does not have spouse, children or family to offer support – she is in this on her own.
· While Karen dearly hopes to return to work, she may not be able to. Long-term financial restructuring now will ensure she’s never in this terrifying position again.
What does Karen need to get back on her feet financially and physically?
· Help right now to handle current medical, food and shelter needs. Come late fall, some new state social services are hopefully going to come on board, easing the burden.
· Immediate help paying for food, shelter, and home health aides – critical assistance at this time.
· Funds for a four-day trip in late fall (assuming wounds have healed sufficiently) for next phase of treatment from Dr. Susan Samson, her Houston, TX endocrinologist aka the female “Dr. House” -- an expert on her rare condition -- who provided the new diagnosis and treatment plan, offering new hope for a real recovery.
How can you help Karen?
· The current Help-Karen-Walk-Again campaign will support Karen in regaining full mobility.
· Expert wound and pain management care will help resolve the extremely painful wounds she currently suffers from. These wounds were caused by her previously undiagnosed endocrine system failure, now stabilized.
· Any contribution of any size toward these goals would be most appreciated via a one-time gift or an a monthly pledge.
· If you prefer to contribute by paying an expense directly, links are provided.
· Thank you for your support! More information, updates and pictures will coming as the campaign progresses!
To contribute:
>> https://www.gofundme.com/help-karen-walk-again
>> www.PayPal.me/karenstrickholm
>> In-kind contribution – all links right here !
>> Snail mail (c/o Sazi Marri, 711 Lucky Street, TorC, NM 87901)
Written By Mary Pitzer & Katie Adams ~ Gratitude!
Who is Karen Strickholm?
· Karen lives in Truth Or Consequences, NM with her two rescue dogs, Chico and Babe and a wonderfully odd-ball new collection of friends and now, medical support team members.
· She ran a successful national marketing/PR company in Los Angeles and then Santa Fe.
· Now unable to work, Karen is trying to recover from a decade of medical and financial crises.
· Karen has helped others all her life. Now she needs your help.
What happened to Karen?
· Karen had a rare brain tumor since birth that slowly grew on her pituitary gland.
· For years, she battled unexplained weight gain, opportunistic infections, fatigue, asthma, brittle bones, chronic pain, and severe inflammation which caused a height loss of 3.5”.
· In 2008, her condition was finally diagnosed at age 50, followed by her first surgery to remove the benign but devastating tumor.
· After a brief recovery, the tumor returned, more lethal than before. A second surgery in 2011 left her in a coma with collapsed lower lungs, fighting for her life.
· She won that battle, but shortly afterward, Karen suffered a usually fatal pulmonary emboli shower - her second near-death experience.
· After intensive care and rehab, she was sent home in a wheelchair and on oxygen, a condition Karen remained in for several years.
· Upon doctor’s orders, she moved to a lower altitude that would help her lung recovery.
· Her day is now scheduled around taking a complicated regimen of medications and supplements to replace missing hormones and support her healing lungs, as well as a new, aggressive rehabilitation program six days a week.
· Karen was declared medically home-bound a year ago.
Why is Karen in financial straits?
· Karen lost substantial income because she has only been able to work part-time since 2008.
· All her savings and retirement funds have been spent on medical costs over the last decade.
· She was able to get by until the last 2+ years, when she hasn’t been able to work at all.
· Because she was successful in business, Karen ironically does not qualify for any aid, even though her out-of-pocket medical expenses place her in poverty.
· Her current medical bills are so high that she currently gets further behind every month.
· She requires medical aides for basic life activities – bathing and dressing, carrying, food prep, cleaning, errands – a monthly cost she must pay out of pocket.
· Karen’s car is dead, and the town’s only taxi service closed. She needs medical transport to attend multiple rehab appointments one hour away – another out-of-pocket cost.
· As a rare disease patient, Karen does not have any national support network to lean on for home care and medical travel – common benefits available to patients with cancer, HIV or MS.
· Karen does not have spouse, children or family to offer support – she is in this on her own.
· While Karen dearly hopes to return to work, she may not be able to. Long-term financial restructuring now will ensure she’s never in this terrifying position again.
What does Karen need to get back on her feet financially and physically?
· Help right now to handle current medical, food and shelter needs. Come late fall, some new state social services are hopefully going to come on board, easing the burden.
· Immediate help paying for food, shelter, and home health aides – critical assistance at this time.
· Funds for a four-day trip in late fall (assuming wounds have healed sufficiently) for next phase of treatment from Dr. Susan Samson, her Houston, TX endocrinologist aka the female “Dr. House” -- an expert on her rare condition -- who provided the new diagnosis and treatment plan, offering new hope for a real recovery.
How can you help Karen?
· The current Help-Karen-Walk-Again campaign will support Karen in regaining full mobility.
· Expert wound and pain management care will help resolve the extremely painful wounds she currently suffers from. These wounds were caused by her previously undiagnosed endocrine system failure, now stabilized.
· Any contribution of any size toward these goals would be most appreciated via a one-time gift or an a monthly pledge.
· If you prefer to contribute by paying an expense directly, links are provided.
· Thank you for your support! More information, updates and pictures will coming as the campaign progresses!
To contribute:
>> https://www.gofundme.com/help-karen-walk-again
>> www.PayPal.me/karenstrickholm
>> In-kind contribution – all links right here !
>> Snail mail (c/o Sazi Marri, 711 Lucky Street, TorC, NM 87901)
Written By Mary Pitzer & Katie Adams ~ Gratitude!
Organizer
Karen Strickholm
Organizer
Truth or Consequences, NM