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Please Help Karen

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We are looking to raise funds to cover treatments for Karen’s Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Disease. ITP is a bleeding disorder where the immune system destroys platelets which are necessary for normal blood clotting.  Unfortunately, there is not one specific proven treatment and everyone responds differently.  Currently, Karen is being treated with a heavy dose of steroids that make her extremely nauseous and exhausted.  To make matters worse ITP is Karen’s secondary medical diagnosis.  Karen currently struggles with intense migraines which leaves her unable to stand, move or function properly.  Karen feels as if she is having an intense bout of vertigo when she stands.

Karen has had extensive testing since May 2. Since trying to find the cause of her health problems and ITP diagnoses she has become critical and her doctors are not proceeding with any further testing. To date she has been to 90 Appointments since May 9th.  This does not include the phone and video consults with her doctors. The Director of Hematology and the Specialist of Hematology have recommended her for a chemotherapy treatment.  They have had great success with this drug and hope the four rounds will be enough. In order to start the treatment she must be weaned off the steroids.  They will vaccinate her for pneumonia and shingles to help build antibodies. She will then proceed to complete four rounds of chemotherapy. Karen will receive an injection a week for four weeks at McMaster Health Sciences in Hamilton.  Each round of chemo is $4,000 for a total of $16,000. Once she has completed the four rounds, they will test to see if it was successful. Unfortunately, this course of treatment they have prescribed to help Karen’s ITP is not an approved drug for her diagnosis. This means OHIP and SunLife Insurance will not provide coverage. Karen is not the only patient that has been denied coverage for this drug.  If this treatment is successful the process of rebuilding a healthy immune system will begin.

Our current goal is to raise $16,000 to cover the first set of treatments and if possible, for any other additional medical bills which will not be covered.

For those of you who do not know Karen, she is kind, selfless, very supportive, strong, generous, and caring. Karen is tenacious and hardworking. She is a farm girl biologically and a Supervisor within a large organization professionally.  She carries with her a heart of gold.  Regardless if you have known her for five minutes or a lifetime, she treats you as if you are family.  Karen is always willing to help everyone around her and goes above and beyond her everyday duties. Her door is always open whether it is work related or personal, she will always give you the time of day.  Karen has a wealth of knowledge which she bestows on anyone who will listen. She constantly teaches and always wants the best for anyone in her life.   This past year Karen won the Civilian Supervisor of the Year Award. That speaks volumes about her character!

Every morning prior to her health condition, she would take care of her 95 year old mother-in-law and ensure she was ready for the day. After that she would go to the barn to chore and take care of her 30 plus head of cattle. After working and commuting 80km each way, she would finish her barn chores, take care of her mother-in-law, and complete any tasks around the house before heading to bed.  Weekends consisted of taking care of her mother-in-law, house and barn which would leave very little time for herself.  Karen has always put others before herself even when she needs to take time to rest and relax. 

This is our opportunity to give back to someone so deserving.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Karen’s Fans and Admirers.

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Donations 

  • Brad Carberry
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Kimm Trichilo
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Norma & Murray Preece
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
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Fundraising team: Team Karen (3)

S D
Organizer
Raised $1,310 from 15 donations
Erin, ON
Karen McMaster
Beneficiary
C M
Team member
Raised $725 from 6 donations
J M
Team member
This team raised $19,295 from 219 other donations.

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