Support Karen's Elwells Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer

I have disabled donations at this time as Karen is in her final days of life in hospice care. As these funds go to her bank it makes it harder for them to be used for her final funeral expenses now that she is non responsive. I have set up another in her son’s name to cover those needs.

Thank you all for the love and support you have shown Karen . She was so very grateful.

Judi

. I am setting up this fund to help Karen, a dear friend for over 40 years. We met as we were about to become young mothers who had lost our mothers young , a bond that has spanned over 4 decades together.

She has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has spread showing spots on her lungs and spine. There is also a mass encasing the left adrenal artery, posterior to the kidney, that created a compression fracture on L1 (lumbar spine). So she is dealing with excruciating back pain .

She will need help as she begins the fight of her life... for her life.

Each of you who know Karen has been on the receiving end of her love and help in some way, shape, or form.

Donations to help cover lost wages due to the time she has been needing to take off for testing and now for upcoming treatment will be so appreciated.

She lives alone, so her wages are the only source of income she relies on. Her first treatment has already taken a toll on her and work has been impossible this week.

we don’t anticipate it to be any easier as time goes on.

I am updating this 2 months in . She has not had a paycheck for over a months time. Not even the reduced checks she was getting while taking so much time off.

Her bills had already started piling up so while it looks like she now has $5000 to live on she paid all her past due bills and also has been paying out of pocket diabetes supplies and medications related to her cancer. We can’t stop now !!

PLEASE don’t think your $10 or $20 donation wouldn’t matter.

Having just started a new job this past spring she has no benefits that are helping her at this time.

She lost her health insurance, social security disability has been draining her of strength as she tries to apply .

They tell her it takes 6 months. The paperwork and red tape is horrible.

At a time when she should be resting during her treatments she is worrying about the next denial letter.

Let's show her she is NOT ALONE in this

If you can’t donate, please SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!

And please keep her in your prayers.

update as of December 20th

Good Morning,

It’s been a few weeks since the last update. Thank you for the support you have shown Karen. It has allowed her to pay all her expenses and copay’s and also insurance premiums. I can assure you it was used for much needed things. Yes a few gifts for Christmas for her 3 grandchildren found there way into her home to bring joy to the season from their Mammy.

Karen’s journey the last 3 weeks has been a whirlwind.

She endured another round of chemotherapy to try and reduce the pain .

She is Diabetic also…with her pancreas under attack her blood sugar is a constant battle. She has plummeted dangerously low on 3 occasions now.

Twice this happened while she was in her home overnight alone.

As of today she is in the hospital again where she was taken by ambulance after a middle of the night sugar drop with increased back pain and her white blood count is dangerously low.

She has been talking about when is the right time to move from Palliative Care to Hospice care.

All very hard talks and decisions . She needs more care and her son is trying his best to provide this for her. This is taking him away from both his jobs as he is trying to provide for his wife and 3 children.

The financial stress is still very very real and support is needed. Please help this family to care for one another in this heartbreaking journey.

I am sorry to keep asking but please share and help . Truly every dollar makes a difference.

There is still no income coming in. And now another family member is losing the wages they count on week to week.

This is a desperate situation.