Karen Mielke Breast Cancer Fund

Our beautiful sister-in-law, Karen Mielke, was recently diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage 2 Breast Cancer.

Karen and Bob have a 14-month old daughter and she had stopped breastfeeding about 7 months ago. She noticed two lumps in her breast and went in thinking they were clogged milk ducts. They sent her in to do a mammogram, which led to an ultrasound and biopsy. With the results from those tests, she was diagnosed with IDC Stage 2 Breast Cancer.

After consideration, they have chosen to go to Mayo in Rochester, MN for all of her medical needs. Her medical team has decided to start with chemotherapy - which will be six rounds, every three weeks for an eighteen week period. After recovering from chemotherapy, she will undergo a double mastectomy with reconstruction surgery and potential radiation following.

Because of the emotional strain, she will not be working while going through the 7 or 8 month treatment plan. With their young family, going down to one income will be a financial strain - in conjunction with un-planned daycare expenses, medical bills and numerous car trips down to Rochester.

It breaks our hearts that my brother and sister-in-law are going through such a tough time in their life...something the majority of us don't even understand. Any kind of support you can provide will take so much extra stress off of their plate and will allow them to focus on her health and things they SHOULD be thinking about rather than focusing on financial stress.

Thank you in advance for any gift you can provide. Even if a financial donation is not in your budget, we ask everyone for your continued prayers in getting their family through this difficult time.

Alyson and Jeff Leno