Karma for Kathy 3.0
Donation protected
As most of you know, Kathy was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in August of 2016. We are re-starting this fundraiser for her because she is on the brink of a financial crisis created by living with cancer long term.
She had pre-op chemotherapy, followed by extensive abdominal surgery in late November of that year. After surgery, she began an intense and grueling treatment of chemotherapy. Kathy was cancer free for several months. Then the cancer returned. This time surgery is not an option. In early 2018, Kathy began an experimental protocol, which required her to be at MGH 5 days a week! After several months undergoing this regime, and despite the best efforts of her medical team, her cancer continued growing. To say Kathy was discouraged is an understatement.
Nevertheless Kathy persists!
In speaking with her doctors, Kathy came to the realization that curing her cancer or going into full remission are no longer realistic expectations. Kathy's hope is to live with her cancer for as long as possible, through ongoing maintenance treatment. Presently, she is receiving 1 treatment that shrinks her tumors. She is also getting a second treatment that keeps tumors from growing again. It is likely Kathy will be in and out of this form of treatment for the rest of her life. We are hoping we will have many more years with Kathy; but there are no guarantees.
These treatments are exhausting. Kathy's current capacity to work and meet her financial obligations are limited. This is the reason we are here once again to ask for your help. Kathy is currently on partial disability. This gives her 60% of her salary on which to live. She is limited to work 8 hours a week. ALL of the $400/week she earns is used to pay her portion of her health care premium. In 60 days, Kathy will be required to double this ($800!) per month to cover the entire health care premium herself.
A potential catastrophic financial shortfall is looming for Kathy in the very near future. We are asking for all of you to once again step up, if you are able. If together we can donate $1,000 each month for the coming year; we could make it possible for Kathy to stay in her home while she contemplates her options and makes some difficult decisions.
As Kathy's close friend and aunt we are humbled by the generosity you have already shown Kathy. We wish with all our hearts we didn't need to ask. Blessings and good health to all of you. Please hold Kathy in your hearts and prayers.
Bernadette Girasek and Brenda McCarthy
She had pre-op chemotherapy, followed by extensive abdominal surgery in late November of that year. After surgery, she began an intense and grueling treatment of chemotherapy. Kathy was cancer free for several months. Then the cancer returned. This time surgery is not an option. In early 2018, Kathy began an experimental protocol, which required her to be at MGH 5 days a week! After several months undergoing this regime, and despite the best efforts of her medical team, her cancer continued growing. To say Kathy was discouraged is an understatement.
Nevertheless Kathy persists!
In speaking with her doctors, Kathy came to the realization that curing her cancer or going into full remission are no longer realistic expectations. Kathy's hope is to live with her cancer for as long as possible, through ongoing maintenance treatment. Presently, she is receiving 1 treatment that shrinks her tumors. She is also getting a second treatment that keeps tumors from growing again. It is likely Kathy will be in and out of this form of treatment for the rest of her life. We are hoping we will have many more years with Kathy; but there are no guarantees.
These treatments are exhausting. Kathy's current capacity to work and meet her financial obligations are limited. This is the reason we are here once again to ask for your help. Kathy is currently on partial disability. This gives her 60% of her salary on which to live. She is limited to work 8 hours a week. ALL of the $400/week she earns is used to pay her portion of her health care premium. In 60 days, Kathy will be required to double this ($800!) per month to cover the entire health care premium herself.
A potential catastrophic financial shortfall is looming for Kathy in the very near future. We are asking for all of you to once again step up, if you are able. If together we can donate $1,000 each month for the coming year; we could make it possible for Kathy to stay in her home while she contemplates her options and makes some difficult decisions.
As Kathy's close friend and aunt we are humbled by the generosity you have already shown Kathy. We wish with all our hearts we didn't need to ask. Blessings and good health to all of you. Please hold Kathy in your hearts and prayers.
Bernadette Girasek and Brenda McCarthy
Organizer and beneficiary
Bernadette Girasek
Organizer
East Boxford, MA
Kathy Beebie
Beneficiary
