If any of you have met Karen, you would know that she hates that I am doing this. She HATES asking for help. That being said, she won’t make an appointment with a specialist in Minneapolis until she has the money to pay for it, and she has reluctantly agreed to let us try to help.
 
Many of you know Karen as Ali’s mom. Beautiful Ali died of cancer 9 1/2 years ago at the age of 14. She was a wise and amazing soul, and she is still remembered, honored and loved today.


 
Since Ali’s death, Karen has been diagnosed with several incredibly rare and complicated diseases. One of those is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or EDS. It’s a disorder that doesn’t follow any of the traditional treatments or rules or logic. So Karen is now seeking the help of a specialist in Minneapolis, MN. We are organizing this fundraiser to help her cover the costs of this specialist, as insurance coverage is questionable and travel expenses are not covered. If Karen and her husband Rich have any money left over from the cost of the specialist, they will put it toward her other medical expenses, which are also daunting. Karen has had 2 major surgeries in the past 18 months, along with an incredibly rare neurological disorder called Episodic Ataxia, all requiring hospital stays. Because of all of these medical issues, Karen is unable to work, read for more than a few minutes or even look at a screen for longer periods of time (Karen has a degree in social work and is a student of life, so you all know how hard these physical restrictions are for her.)
 
Thank you in advance for helping Karen and Rich get the specialized help she needs and improving Karen's quality of life.