Let's Help Kayla: Preventative Double Mastectomy

Katie Dineen is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Kayla Connick.

Donation protected

Hi, my name is Katie, and my bandmate and dear friend Kayla Connick is having a preventative double mastectomy surgery next week on November 2nd. Kayla's beautiful smile, humor, and postive attitude would not indicate the challenges she's had to overcome, so let me just tell you:

Kayla is a badass.

Not only is she a 29-year-old, self-employed music therapist, running her own therapy program that mainly serves (1) older people in memory-care facilities and (2) on-the-spectrum children, but Kayla also is the primary care-giver of her mother, who has a medical condition that makes it very challenging to move on her own. Beyond that, Kayla also offers many free songwriting workshops and children's events to the community because she has such a passion for helping and connecting people through music.

Several years ago, Kayla learned she has a genetic mutation that pre-disposes her to cancer. This double mastectomy just before she turns 30 has been planned for years, as well as a full hysterectomy when she turns 35. She was told by her doctor that she is very lucky because just a couple decades ago, many women with BRCA mutations died because they did not have the option for preventative surgery.

The double mastectomy next week will put her in bed healing for 6 weeks, meaning 6 weeks of no work, no playing the violin, and no life without a lot of assistance. The muscles in the chest are responsible for moving the arms, so without assistance, pushing up out of the bed to go to the bathroom or do anything else would be very difficult, if not impossible. To help take care of both her AND her mother while she is down, her boyfriend (my friend and other bandmate) Jake Rabalais will also be taking off of work.

No one should have to go through this alone, but especially not someone with a heart of gold like Kayla. Please donate to this go-fund-me to help ease the financial stress of this whole process, and to help give back to someone who freely gives her life, love, and gifts as a therpist, musician, and friend to others.

Kayla & Jake