My heart broke when I read the text I received yesterday from my long-time friend, Karen Green: "I met with the doctor yesterday and now she told me I have less than a year."

Many of you know her as former Deputy Karen Elliott through her many years of service at the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, which is where we met 16 years ago and served together.

What you may not know is that Karen began a quiet battle with breast cancer in December 2019 and was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020, which metastasized to her lungs and liver in 2021. Her tumors continue to grow even as new ones arise, and her chemo next month, is her 100th treatment. Her oncologist told her yesterday there’s nothing else they can do to help her, and her doctor estimates that she has less than a year, which was a devastating blow.

No one should be planning their death at the age of 48, but that’s exactly what Karen is doing because she doesn’t have a choice. I’ve watched her roll with every punch and endure countless therapies and surgeries, yet she’s never uttered one complaint to me over the years. She is fearless and confident in her future, despite the circumstances. She’s a true warrior in every sense of the word and deserves nothing but respect and support.

As the mother of four children, the youngest only six years old, her greatest concern is for them. She wants to do something special with her family but needs our help to make it happen, as her precarious health has resulted in her disability for many years. Please help me raise funds to cover a trip to Disney World with her family before her health will no longer allow it. That’s her greatest wish, and it would mean the world to her and her children to do it. If donations exceed the cost of the trip, those funds will be used for any medical or general living expenses. Cancer is expensive and Karen worked hard until her health made it impossible for her to hold a job. She needs financial support beyond a final, meaningful family vacation for her children and we are deeply appreciative of anyone who donates to her family.

Please donate any amount you can to help us make this dream come true for a woman who served her community for many years and has been waging a courageous battle against an insidious disease with tremendous grace. Above all else, please keep Karen and her sweet family in your continued prayers. She is truly in God’s hands.

Shannon