I’m putting together this GoFundMe to support my friend Audra Koopman, following the loss of her mother on November 1, 2025. Audra and I started graduate school in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington at the same time, attending many classes together during the first year of our respective programs. I’m grateful for our shared experience and stand in awe of this incredible young woman I’m proud to call my friend.

Audra is an only child who was raised by a single mom. Her mom’s work as a massage therapist serving disabled athletes and children (among others) is what Audra credits for giving her the inspiration to pursue a career in prosthetics & orthotics (P&O).

Audra moved to Seattle for P&O graduate school, starting the nearly 2-year full time program in the fall of 2022. Her mom was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumor and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the early days of 2023. She had a stem cell transplant in April 2023 and was in remission shortly after. Unfortunately, however, she was subsequently diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, “mini” cerebral infarctions that continued to show up on her brain MRIs, lupus, and a blood clotting disorder that all contributed to her declining health and mental state. The disabling nature of the diseases and treatments limited how much her mom was able to continue working during her fight to recover, despite needing to financially.

Amidst a rigorous and demanding full-time graduate program, Audra prioritized multiple trips to Colorado to support her mom during her time of need, with her mom encouraging her to continue her program. In addition to grad school academics, she was selected to participate in the American Prosthetic and Orthotic Association Policy Forum, where they lobbied for the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act with Washington state house and senate representatives. She was also chosen as a participant for the US International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics' service-learning trip to Guatemala City, Guatemala. She submitted applications, attended interviews and bore the expense of cross-country travel for her residency program placement. Despite all these challenges, Audra succeeded at what she set out to do - completing her Master’s degree in June 2024 with a GPA of 3.81, and with a goal of setting herself and her mom up for a better future.

She went on to secure an 18-month residency at a Black owned P&O practice in Memphis, which she is slated to finish in April 2026. Upon completion of her residency, she must study and write a licensing exam to ultimately practice as a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO).

Outside of work, Audra is an artist, an athlete and an outspoken advocate for the most vulnerable communities among us. I’ve no doubt she is changing lives for the better in her practice as a P&O resident, particularly those patients furthest from social justice.

My goal for this fundraiser is to lessen Audra’s financial burden so she can take the time she needs to rest and start to heal from this profound loss, following an extremely taxing few years. Like many students coming out of graduate school in the US, her loans are substantial, and residency provides only a modest income. My fervent hope is to support this exceptional person on the homestretch to becoming a CPO and beyond, where she has a bright future as a healing force in her community.