$4,130 raised
·57 donations
Our Best Friend Kate
Donation protected
This one is for our friend, Kate.
There's no truer sentiment that I can provide other than calling her "our friend." She is a friend to every life she touches.
How ironic is it -- the girl with the golden heart has a heart that's physically falling apart. It just doesn't seem right.
For those of you who don't know, here's a brief synopsis of her story:
Starting in late high school, Kate had some of the first symptoms of her heart condition. Upon hospitalization, she was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome -- a rare genetic disorder which causes abnormal heart activity. After this diagnosis, Kate had her first defibrillator procedure (something no teenager should have to go through).
Although she was suffering from mild symptoms post-procedure, her health began to decline further nearly 10 years later. Kate began having difficulty with normal everyday tasks -- walking would put her out of rhythm. Hanging out with friends became an uneasy task. Kate's symptoms persisted, and upon another hospitalization, it was discovered that her liver and spleen were enlarged. Something just wasn't adding up. Her heart condition was worsening, her symptoms were worsening -- eventually, doctors suggested that she was wrongly diagnosed with Brugada, but they could not (and still cannot) give a proper diagnosis. Kate has been in for series of genetic testing procedures, and although we hope she gets an answer on her diagnosis one day, there's still so much uncertainty around it.
About a year ago, in the midst of preparing to be in a wedding, Kate's defibrillator went off. Unlike any normal person, Kate still managed to persuade the doctors that she had to attend the wedding, showing how resilient and brave she is. Kate had an ablation soon after this event and we were all filled with so much hope. Kate had to take about a month to heal, but after this time, she felt like her life was coming back to her. Her rhythms that would take away her breath were subsiding -- she was able to live her life.
Recently, however, her health took a turn. After enrolling and being accepted into a nursing program, things were starting to look up, but Kate's defibrillator went off again. She is now back at square one -- all of her cardiac symptoms, the anxiety of not knowing what's wrong -- it's just not fair.
Could you imagine being in your 20's with your life fully ahead of you? It's such an exciting time. Now imagine being in Kate's situation with so much uncertainty surrounding her health...think about how she's still smiling and trying to be positive through it all.
I have seen Kate lose her license multiple times because of her condition. She has had to miss work. She has had to miss classes. She has had to postpone her education. She has had to decline invitations to hang out with friends. She has had to go through more in her 20-something years of life than most people will ever have to endure.
We can't fix her, but we can try to lessen the financial burden. After all, I can guarantee that she has always been there for us when we've needed it the most.
A message from Kate on October 12, 2018:
"It has been a tough month. I’m on my third admission. This current admission has three procedures in store. First one was today and went well. Next will be next week and another after that.
Sometimes you don’t get the best news and sometimes things don’t go they way you planned. After finally being accepted into nursing school, starting, and then having it all taken away by something you have no control over has been devastating. And knowing what it was like to be healthy for 8 months after my last ablation gives me no patience to deal with all of it again. I’m glad that I did everything I could, while I could, and of course hope for the same outcome once again.
I’m not looking for pity or sympathy when I decide to share my life with you here on Facebook but I think it’s important for people to understand how devastating chronic illnesses can be.
A lot lack cures and there are a lot of unknowns. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It’s endless consents to medications with horrible side effects, consents for anesthesia, essentially consents to things that could actually make you worse, but you’re so desperate that it’s almost easy to sign your name.
I’m exhausted, terrified, I’m sick and tired of being wheeled down to operating rooms, hooked up to 8+ 52” screens showing my arrhythmia’s, I’m sick of defibrillator pads, I’m sick of the pain from incisions, puking after anesthesia, being shocked, fearing being shocked, getting my license taken away. I’m sick of having to watch my mom try so hard to be strong. I’m sick of saying goodbye to my family and friends every time I go under. I’m sick of this feeling of impending doom. I’m sick, but I’m also grateful.
My team of doctors couldn’t be anymore intelligent and compassionate. The nurses are empathetic and loving, my family and friends are so incredibly supportive. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually nice to be known around the hospital. This place is where I face some of the toughest news and scariest procedures but it’s also where I feel safe. I have a lifetime of challenges ahead of me, maybe not the same ones as you but we all go through stuff. I just think for right now I have to find peace. I have to not fear the future and have faith everything will be ok.
If anyone is going through anything, similar or not, I am here. I have empathy and compassion and I don’t judge and if I can bring any peace to you then that’s all that matters because I know what it’s like to be on the opposite end of that and how important it can be.
For now, I ask for many prayers to whatever god you believe in and any beautiful angels you know."
This one is for our friend, Kate.
There's no truer sentiment that I can provide other than calling her "our friend." She is a friend to every life she touches.
How ironic is it -- the girl with the golden heart has a heart that's physically falling apart. It just doesn't seem right.
For those of you who don't know, here's a brief synopsis of her story:
Starting in late high school, Kate had some of the first symptoms of her heart condition. Upon hospitalization, she was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome -- a rare genetic disorder which causes abnormal heart activity. After this diagnosis, Kate had her first defibrillator procedure (something no teenager should have to go through).
Although she was suffering from mild symptoms post-procedure, her health began to decline further nearly 10 years later. Kate began having difficulty with normal everyday tasks -- walking would put her out of rhythm. Hanging out with friends became an uneasy task. Kate's symptoms persisted, and upon another hospitalization, it was discovered that her liver and spleen were enlarged. Something just wasn't adding up. Her heart condition was worsening, her symptoms were worsening -- eventually, doctors suggested that she was wrongly diagnosed with Brugada, but they could not (and still cannot) give a proper diagnosis. Kate has been in for series of genetic testing procedures, and although we hope she gets an answer on her diagnosis one day, there's still so much uncertainty around it.
About a year ago, in the midst of preparing to be in a wedding, Kate's defibrillator went off. Unlike any normal person, Kate still managed to persuade the doctors that she had to attend the wedding, showing how resilient and brave she is. Kate had an ablation soon after this event and we were all filled with so much hope. Kate had to take about a month to heal, but after this time, she felt like her life was coming back to her. Her rhythms that would take away her breath were subsiding -- she was able to live her life.
Recently, however, her health took a turn. After enrolling and being accepted into a nursing program, things were starting to look up, but Kate's defibrillator went off again. She is now back at square one -- all of her cardiac symptoms, the anxiety of not knowing what's wrong -- it's just not fair.
Could you imagine being in your 20's with your life fully ahead of you? It's such an exciting time. Now imagine being in Kate's situation with so much uncertainty surrounding her health...think about how she's still smiling and trying to be positive through it all.
I have seen Kate lose her license multiple times because of her condition. She has had to miss work. She has had to miss classes. She has had to postpone her education. She has had to decline invitations to hang out with friends. She has had to go through more in her 20-something years of life than most people will ever have to endure.
We can't fix her, but we can try to lessen the financial burden. After all, I can guarantee that she has always been there for us when we've needed it the most.
A message from Kate on October 12, 2018:
"It has been a tough month. I’m on my third admission. This current admission has three procedures in store. First one was today and went well. Next will be next week and another after that.
Sometimes you don’t get the best news and sometimes things don’t go they way you planned. After finally being accepted into nursing school, starting, and then having it all taken away by something you have no control over has been devastating. And knowing what it was like to be healthy for 8 months after my last ablation gives me no patience to deal with all of it again. I’m glad that I did everything I could, while I could, and of course hope for the same outcome once again.
I’m not looking for pity or sympathy when I decide to share my life with you here on Facebook but I think it’s important for people to understand how devastating chronic illnesses can be.
A lot lack cures and there are a lot of unknowns. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It’s endless consents to medications with horrible side effects, consents for anesthesia, essentially consents to things that could actually make you worse, but you’re so desperate that it’s almost easy to sign your name.
I’m exhausted, terrified, I’m sick and tired of being wheeled down to operating rooms, hooked up to 8+ 52” screens showing my arrhythmia’s, I’m sick of defibrillator pads, I’m sick of the pain from incisions, puking after anesthesia, being shocked, fearing being shocked, getting my license taken away. I’m sick of having to watch my mom try so hard to be strong. I’m sick of saying goodbye to my family and friends every time I go under. I’m sick of this feeling of impending doom. I’m sick, but I’m also grateful.
My team of doctors couldn’t be anymore intelligent and compassionate. The nurses are empathetic and loving, my family and friends are so incredibly supportive. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually nice to be known around the hospital. This place is where I face some of the toughest news and scariest procedures but it’s also where I feel safe. I have a lifetime of challenges ahead of me, maybe not the same ones as you but we all go through stuff. I just think for right now I have to find peace. I have to not fear the future and have faith everything will be ok.
If anyone is going through anything, similar or not, I am here. I have empathy and compassion and I don’t judge and if I can bring any peace to you then that’s all that matters because I know what it’s like to be on the opposite end of that and how important it can be.
For now, I ask for many prayers to whatever god you believe in and any beautiful angels you know."
This one is for our friend, Kate.
Donations
Organizer
David Aranjo
Organizer
Norton, MA