Stepping up for Diane DeMare
Donation protected
Diane DeMare is a real-life guardian angel for many of us: reassuring us through missed flights and getting us back on the road, staying up to pick up the kids at 2am, setting work aside to join a friend who needs a listening heart... she's kind, unassuming and so present when we need her.
It's now time for us to step up for her. Literally.
She just had a stairlift put in so that she could get up and down the stairs in her home... that's another $11K that her family's had to shell out since learning the devastating news in this summer.
On Aug 3rd we received the diagnosis: Glioblastoma, the most aggressive forms of brain cancer there is. She was advised that even with treatment, her days left with us were counted.
Since that day, Diane's impressed so many of us with her unwavering courage. She's finished 30 sessions of radiation and chemo. She's gone through platelet and blood transfusions. She's had a couple of scares with medical side effects that saw her back in the hospital last month.
But she's home now. And she's determined to live her last days as she always has - Simply. Savouring precious moments with her daughter Zoe, husband Denis, her family and friends.
Zoe and Denis have shown the strength of their love throughout these challenging months, never leaving her side and making sure she has everything she needs.
While some of us have been able to visit and continue as if nothing were different, they've had to face the reality of cancer and a change of lifestyle. While insurance protects part of Diane's revenue, it hasn't covered Denis' lost wages as he's had to take weeks off. Denis has watched expenses pile up, from medical supplies to renos to adapt the home including the installation of the stairlift that means she can stay home in the care of her family. The cost of these is adding a burden at a time he should be solely focused on his wife and daughter.
None of us can take his place, but we CAN help by contributing to offset the costs of making Diane's last days peaceful.
Many of you have asked what you can do. The most useful thing right now by making a donation here on gofundme. Every dollar makes a difference.
If you can share the campaign and help get the message out, that would be helpful. Many, many, many people in the community know Diane and may not even be aware of what she and her family are facing. Their donations and messages are appreciated.
If you'd like to create an activity to raise funds, please do. And let us know so that we can share the message with the community and add amounts raised to this fund. (I know that some of Zoe's friends will be making and selling special bracelets - we'll have news up about that soon!)
Tears might come easily when we think about what glioblastoma means. But Diane doesn't want us to be sad. She needs to know that there's still a ton of happiness and celebration in store for her and her family and for us, together, in the months ahead.
Thank you for your love and for your help.
Merci de tout coeur.
Nathalie
Some additional information:
Who we are: I'm Nathalie Kleinschmit. Some of you may know me as the mom of Elise and Joanna Candas who have been Zoe's best friends for years. Since 2009, when Diane and I first met while driving our daughters to a Britney Spears concert in Grand Forks, she has been my friend, travel agent, confidant, life coach, travel buddy, sidekick and sister from another mother... I was encouraged to set up the gofundme campaign by Diane's close friends Richard Augert and Romeo Routhier, with the support of Denis and Zoe of course.
My contact information is [email redacted]
On donations, please know that:
- all funds will be transferred to Diane DeMare's account
- cheques can be made out to Diane DeMare and sent directly
Expenses include:
- stairlift
- back deck ramp
- medical supplies for adapted mobility
- bathroom equipment
- armchairs
- loss of wages for Denis, reduced revenue for Diane
- a ridiculous amount of small expenses that add up (parking passes for Denis and Zoe, hospital meals, extra medication & supplements)
If you'd like more detail, please ask.
It's now time for us to step up for her. Literally.
She just had a stairlift put in so that she could get up and down the stairs in her home... that's another $11K that her family's had to shell out since learning the devastating news in this summer.
On Aug 3rd we received the diagnosis: Glioblastoma, the most aggressive forms of brain cancer there is. She was advised that even with treatment, her days left with us were counted.
Since that day, Diane's impressed so many of us with her unwavering courage. She's finished 30 sessions of radiation and chemo. She's gone through platelet and blood transfusions. She's had a couple of scares with medical side effects that saw her back in the hospital last month.
But she's home now. And she's determined to live her last days as she always has - Simply. Savouring precious moments with her daughter Zoe, husband Denis, her family and friends.
Zoe and Denis have shown the strength of their love throughout these challenging months, never leaving her side and making sure she has everything she needs.
While some of us have been able to visit and continue as if nothing were different, they've had to face the reality of cancer and a change of lifestyle. While insurance protects part of Diane's revenue, it hasn't covered Denis' lost wages as he's had to take weeks off. Denis has watched expenses pile up, from medical supplies to renos to adapt the home including the installation of the stairlift that means she can stay home in the care of her family. The cost of these is adding a burden at a time he should be solely focused on his wife and daughter.
None of us can take his place, but we CAN help by contributing to offset the costs of making Diane's last days peaceful.
Many of you have asked what you can do. The most useful thing right now by making a donation here on gofundme. Every dollar makes a difference.
If you can share the campaign and help get the message out, that would be helpful. Many, many, many people in the community know Diane and may not even be aware of what she and her family are facing. Their donations and messages are appreciated.
If you'd like to create an activity to raise funds, please do. And let us know so that we can share the message with the community and add amounts raised to this fund. (I know that some of Zoe's friends will be making and selling special bracelets - we'll have news up about that soon!)
Tears might come easily when we think about what glioblastoma means. But Diane doesn't want us to be sad. She needs to know that there's still a ton of happiness and celebration in store for her and her family and for us, together, in the months ahead.
Thank you for your love and for your help.
Merci de tout coeur.
Nathalie
Some additional information:
Who we are: I'm Nathalie Kleinschmit. Some of you may know me as the mom of Elise and Joanna Candas who have been Zoe's best friends for years. Since 2009, when Diane and I first met while driving our daughters to a Britney Spears concert in Grand Forks, she has been my friend, travel agent, confidant, life coach, travel buddy, sidekick and sister from another mother... I was encouraged to set up the gofundme campaign by Diane's close friends Richard Augert and Romeo Routhier, with the support of Denis and Zoe of course.
My contact information is [email redacted]
On donations, please know that:
- all funds will be transferred to Diane DeMare's account
- cheques can be made out to Diane DeMare and sent directly
Expenses include:
- stairlift
- back deck ramp
- medical supplies for adapted mobility
- bathroom equipment
- armchairs
- loss of wages for Denis, reduced revenue for Diane
- a ridiculous amount of small expenses that add up (parking passes for Denis and Zoe, hospital meals, extra medication & supplements)
If you'd like more detail, please ask.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nathalie Kleinschmit
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB
Denis Savoie
Beneficiary