Hi everyone,

For those who know my mom, Karen Christian, I created this page to share an update on her condition and offer ways you can support her during this time.

On February 17th, my mom became sick with what we believe was COVID or the flu. She was in bed for several days with typical cold-like symptoms. As time went on, she began experiencing extreme fatigue, which we initially assumed was part of the illness or possibly long COVID.

On March 11th, she went to a walk-in clinic, where she was told everything seemed fine and there were no symptoms requiring antibiotics. However, her fatigue continued, along with a loss of appetite. Because of this, she went to the ER on March 19th. There, doctors performed bloodwork and a CT scan, which revealed a mass. They also found a significant amount of fluid in her abdomen and told us they suspected ovarian cancer. The next day, they drained over 2 liters of fluid from her abdomen before sending her home.

Her biopsy appointment was initially scheduled for April 7th, but thankfully, due to a cancellation, she was able to have her biopsy sooner—on March 26th. On April 2nd, she had to have fluid drained again, this time over 3 liters.

On April 8th, we met with the oncologist to review the biopsy results. The findings strongly suggest an aggressive cancer, but the exact type has not yet been identified. Further analysis is ongoing, and we are waiting for additional information.

Surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th. During this procedure, they will collect more tissue for testing, and if possible, the surgeon will attempt to remove the mass. She has completed her pre-operative testing. Although her EKG came back abnormal, we’ve been assured by the anesthesia team that she is still cleared for surgery.

Once we receive results from this next biopsy and have a confirmed diagnosis, we will be able to determine the best course of treatment.

We’re taking this one day at a time and doing our best to focus on the positives. On April 8th, we saw so many things fall into place. Although the doctors didn’t yet have all the answers, they still took the time to meet with us and move things forward. My mom is now officially a patient within the system, which means we can access care more quickly when we need it. We were also able to get surgery scheduled—something that initially didn’t seem possible, as the original plan was to start with chemotherapy first. We’re incredibly grateful for these answers to prayers.

Right now, my mom is at home resting. We have a mobile IV nurse coming to help keep her hydrated leading up to surgery. She is very weak, but her doctor feels it is best for her to remain at home to reduce the risk of any illnesses.

If you know my mom, you know she has always put others before herself and spent her life helping for those around her. Now, she needs us.

So many of you have asked how you can help. Here are a few ways:

• Please share this page with anyone who knows her so we can keep everyone informed.

• Continue to pray—for strength, peace, and healing, and that everything continues to fall into place.

• Send her encouraging messages or cards. (If you’re looking for updates, I kindly ask that you reach out to me directly.)

• Consider making a donation to help with out-of-pocket expenses such as copays, treatments, and other costs not covered by insurance.

Please note: GoFundMe deducts a 2.9% transaction fee from each donation. If you would prefer to give directly to avoid this fee, feel free to text me and I can share alternative options.

Thank you all for your prayers, kind messages, and generosity. It truly means so much to our family.

With gratitude,

Kelly