Karen’s Family

“I want to be there for the milestones of their lives… Sweet 16, graduation, learning to drive, weddings and grandchildren. I want to fight because I don’t want them sad.” –Karen Medley


Karen puts a smile on everyone’s face while making them laugh at the same time. She is a ray of sunshine in so many people’s lives. She is the best mom, friend, daughter, wife, and coworker. She gives so selflessly while always making time for fun, family and friends. When we all found out Karen may have something serious going on with her health, we as a village came together to help, support and protect her and her beautiful family.

As a child Karen suffered an illness called RRP (Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis). Throughout her childhood, she had countless surgeries on her vocal cords and has been in remission since the age of 10, or so we thought. Recently she went to the doctor as she had a faint, lingering cough that just wouldn’t quit. Her world was turned upside down when she found out the RRP came back, went into her lungs and converted into cancer.

Karen’s current diagnosis is Stage 4 lung cancer. The road ahead is not going to be a straight one. She’s starting with daily radiation for 6 weeks and weekly chemotherapy. Through this diagnosis, Karen is optimistic and she’s prepared to fight with every ounce of her being. Her determination is fierce and her motivation to beat this are her beautiful children Kaitlyn and Ethan. 

As we know what comes with fighting is financial strain. Karen has been a self-employed hairdresser for over 15 years and she will have to put that on hold for an unknown amount of time. The loss of wages in a 2 income household have already put a strain on her family and treatment hasn’t even begun. The goal is to focus all of her energy on getting healthy and not worrying about the finances; medical bills and expenses add up quickly. There is also hope in turning to alternative medicine, which is a very hefty expense.

Thank you for your love, prayers and support!!! It really means the world to Karen. Together we can achieve so much more than on our own.