Kim Marino's Battle with CJD and Final Farewell

It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that this GoFundMe has been created to help offset medical care and final expense costs for Kim Marino. Kim has been diagnosed with a severe, extremely rare (1 in a million) degenerative neurological disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It is the rarest and deadliest neurological disease in the world. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6001-creutzfeldt-jakob-disease

There is no cure for CJD and currently there is no treatment available. CJD is always fatal and most patients will pass within a year of onset of symptoms. Because of how rare this disease is, there aren’t many resources available. Kim’s mental and physical state is rapidly declining and we don’t know how much longer her family and friends will have left with her. She went into the hospital on April 28th after suddenly becoming lost and confused. Now, she can’t walk, can’t use the bathroom, can’t eat solid foods, and the doctors have spoken to the family about making final arrangements. With that being said, she needs round-the-clock care and the bills are beginning to come in and add up.

For those who don’t personally know Kim, she is a mother to 4 amazing people: Vinny, Michael, Vanessa, and Lauren, and the best Gigi to her 6 beautiful grandchildren. Furthermore, she worked at Father Cappodanno School as a teacher's aide on Staten Island and was the Assistant Vice President of the St. Theresa’s Golden Age Club. Kim is a friend to many and is always the first to lend a listening ear, a helping hand, some brutally honest advice, or a quick-witted joke. She has opened her home to many throughout the years and there is always an open seat at Kim’s table. She has always maintained a positive outlook and fighter spirit despite the many trials and tribulations life has thrown her way. Unfortunately, this is one challenge Kim cannot beat.

Watching Kim deteriorate has been incredibly painful for the family and not to mention very stressful. She suffers from paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations on top of her physical decline. Kim always made her children promise that when she dies she be “buried inside, in a drawer, in the wall.” She wanted a mausoleum because she had a fear of snakes and a fear of being buried in the ground. Her children would like to honor those wishes, especially after watching her suffer. We ask you to find it in your heart to donate to this GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden incurred so the family can focus solely on Kim and making her final days as peaceful as possible as well as prepare for the funeral arrangements Kim rightfully deserves. No donation is too small and if you are currently not financially equipped to donate, we understand and please ask you to share this with others and pray for Kim and that she may find peace.

Thank you from the bottom of all our hearts, your kindness, care, and generosity are greatly appreciated.