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:  &gt;&gt;  <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/help-karen-walk-again" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/help-karen-walk-again</a> &gt;&gt;  www.PayPal.me/karenstrickholm &gt;&gt;  In-kind contribution – all links <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tFcGHMN6Cw1q7nf12qq6iF2EuoJOXEkK_iXU3DJyYss/edit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">right here</a> ! &gt;&gt;  Snail mail (c/o Sazi Marri, 711 Lucky Street, TorC, NM 87901)    Written By Mary Pitzer &amp; Katie Adams ~ Gratitude!

Corie Brown

Anonymous

Peter Nishita

joann love

Jonathan & Susan Vehar

Paula Hunter

Colin Cochran

Debbie Dunn-Boysen

Nancy Carmichael

Robert Sanchez Langston

Anita Santiago

Kim Baer

Kimberly Salameh

Tamera Moore

Jean Strrickholm

Claudia Piano

Nancy  Carmichael 

STAND UP & WALK!

STAND UP & WALK!

Still $9,885 to go. Help us build momentum.