Help Kristen Kick Cancer
Donation protected
As Kristen's journey to kick cancer continues, the extent of the financial demand that comes with her Cancer diagnosis and the subsequent treatment continues to rapidly increase. Because of this, we have decided to increase our goal to 50k. Here is a message from a close family friend:
About five weeks ago Kristen’s legs were not working well and giving out on her. She got checked out, called by her doctor and told to immediately go to the Emergency Room at Research Hospital. Within days they found a very rare cancer (Kristen calls it a Unicorn Cancer), a tumor inside her spine. They did surgery knowing that Kristen could be paralyzed from the waist down and she is. The first few weeks were very painful and difficult for Kristen. She got through it all by the grace of God, prayers and her can-do spirit. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy started working with her soon after her surgery. The therapists work hard for Kristen, challenging her as she challenged them and together with God’s help her left leg is getting some muscle control back with the right leg having a bit of movement. PT is helping Kristen to learn to move herself on a board from her bed to a chair and to wherever else she needs to move to. They are helping to awaken her muscles in her legs. At this time the hip and stomach muscles are not working properly. The road ahead of her is a long one and an expensive one at that.
Kristen needs you to be on her Team, Sunny Side of Life! She will continue to need medical equipment, supplies, new medical equipment as she progresses, supplies for daily care, therapy (once insurance stops), help with medical bills, essentials to help her body heal that is not covered by insurance, making her home handicapped accessible, BioFreeze pain patches, and the list goes on. Insurance will only cover so much and then the family will be on their own. We want Kristen to know that she has another family, Team Sunny Side of Life Family! She needs your prayers, your monetary support and she needs you to share her GoFundMe page with as many people as you can and encourage them to donate. She needs you to do your own fundraisers on behalf of her to help her to one day walk again through the grace of God. She needs to know she has a team of people who will support her, give her encouragement, keep in touch with her, love her and let her know she does matter. We have increased the amount on the GoFundMe page to $50,000. An amount I believe we can meet with your help. Will you join Kristen and her family and become a part of the Team Sunny Side of Life Family?
Kristen’s theory is, “Life is a glass half full, even when cracked or leaking, God fills it up.” To Read More About Kristen and her Progress Please See Below: Our Kristen is in need of your help. But before I tell you what she needs I want to tell you about Kristen. I have known Kristen since she was 12-13 years old. Our families met through homeschooling. The one thing I noticed immediately was her spirit. She never let anything get her down or at least not for long. She has dyslexia and so school was harder for her, but she kept getting through it. When she was a young teen she suffered 2nd and 3rd-degree burns that caused her much suffering, but with her get up and go attitude she got through it. Through the years Kristen has worn many hats – daughter, caregiver to her mom, friend, wife, mother, teacher, massage therapist, student, and sister. She has shared her heart of caring for many. Many who know Kristen are aware of her get up and go attitude. Through her smile, laughter, looking on the bright side she has given hope in the hearts of others including some who are reading this note. Now Kristen needs your help.
She got her first set of braces that when you see them you know they were made especially for our Kristen! I say first set of braces because braces wear out and she will need new ones in the near future. Occupational Therapy is helping Kristen with everyday activities. OT helps her to try and dress herself, but at this time she can’t do it on her own. She needs help and will continue to need help. Kristen is allergic to the laundry soap the hospital uses for her bedding. Kristen has had her laundry soap brought up to the hospital so she can learn to do her own laundry so she won’t get skin irritation from the hospital’s soap. Kristen has many allergies and sensitivities. Lidocaine patches are wonderful, but due to her allergies she can’t use them. So the family is paying out of pocket for BioFreeze Patches. Yesterday at the hospital Kristen explained to the doctor that the rash she has is due to one of her medicines that has a derivative of pork in it. The medicine will have to be given in liquid form now, but that is okay because the rash will go away and stay away. The hospital is having a specialized wheelchair made specifically for Kristen. This may not be the last wheelchair she will need. Late last week Kristen was asked to speak to a group of young adult driving offenders about herself and what her condition means to her. These young people have caused injuries to themselves and to others. The goal of the programs is to educate so they become better drivers, by meeting people with injuries that can happen to them also. Even though Kristen was not in a vehicle accident it is similar to one caused in car accidents. Kristen was very frank with them. As she was being wheeled back upstairs she started to laugh. She had been asking God how she can serve Him since she is paralyzed. It was a very important conversation to have with God. Well the Lord showed her that no matter what condition you are in He will still use you if your heart is open to Him. Please prayerfully consider helping out our Kristen.
About five weeks ago Kristen’s legs were not working well and giving out on her. She got checked out, called by her doctor and told to immediately go to the Emergency Room at Research Hospital. Within days they found a very rare cancer (Kristen calls it a Unicorn Cancer), a tumor inside her spine. They did surgery knowing that Kristen could be paralyzed from the waist down and she is. The first few weeks were very painful and difficult for Kristen. She got through it all by the grace of God, prayers and her can-do spirit. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy started working with her soon after her surgery. The therapists work hard for Kristen, challenging her as she challenged them and together with God’s help her left leg is getting some muscle control back with the right leg having a bit of movement. PT is helping Kristen to learn to move herself on a board from her bed to a chair and to wherever else she needs to move to. They are helping to awaken her muscles in her legs. At this time the hip and stomach muscles are not working properly. The road ahead of her is a long one and an expensive one at that.
Kristen needs you to be on her Team, Sunny Side of Life! She will continue to need medical equipment, supplies, new medical equipment as she progresses, supplies for daily care, therapy (once insurance stops), help with medical bills, essentials to help her body heal that is not covered by insurance, making her home handicapped accessible, BioFreeze pain patches, and the list goes on. Insurance will only cover so much and then the family will be on their own. We want Kristen to know that she has another family, Team Sunny Side of Life Family! She needs your prayers, your monetary support and she needs you to share her GoFundMe page with as many people as you can and encourage them to donate. She needs you to do your own fundraisers on behalf of her to help her to one day walk again through the grace of God. She needs to know she has a team of people who will support her, give her encouragement, keep in touch with her, love her and let her know she does matter. We have increased the amount on the GoFundMe page to $50,000. An amount I believe we can meet with your help. Will you join Kristen and her family and become a part of the Team Sunny Side of Life Family?
Kristen’s theory is, “Life is a glass half full, even when cracked or leaking, God fills it up.” To Read More About Kristen and her Progress Please See Below: Our Kristen is in need of your help. But before I tell you what she needs I want to tell you about Kristen. I have known Kristen since she was 12-13 years old. Our families met through homeschooling. The one thing I noticed immediately was her spirit. She never let anything get her down or at least not for long. She has dyslexia and so school was harder for her, but she kept getting through it. When she was a young teen she suffered 2nd and 3rd-degree burns that caused her much suffering, but with her get up and go attitude she got through it. Through the years Kristen has worn many hats – daughter, caregiver to her mom, friend, wife, mother, teacher, massage therapist, student, and sister. She has shared her heart of caring for many. Many who know Kristen are aware of her get up and go attitude. Through her smile, laughter, looking on the bright side she has given hope in the hearts of others including some who are reading this note. Now Kristen needs your help.
She got her first set of braces that when you see them you know they were made especially for our Kristen! I say first set of braces because braces wear out and she will need new ones in the near future. Occupational Therapy is helping Kristen with everyday activities. OT helps her to try and dress herself, but at this time she can’t do it on her own. She needs help and will continue to need help. Kristen is allergic to the laundry soap the hospital uses for her bedding. Kristen has had her laundry soap brought up to the hospital so she can learn to do her own laundry so she won’t get skin irritation from the hospital’s soap. Kristen has many allergies and sensitivities. Lidocaine patches are wonderful, but due to her allergies she can’t use them. So the family is paying out of pocket for BioFreeze Patches. Yesterday at the hospital Kristen explained to the doctor that the rash she has is due to one of her medicines that has a derivative of pork in it. The medicine will have to be given in liquid form now, but that is okay because the rash will go away and stay away. The hospital is having a specialized wheelchair made specifically for Kristen. This may not be the last wheelchair she will need. Late last week Kristen was asked to speak to a group of young adult driving offenders about herself and what her condition means to her. These young people have caused injuries to themselves and to others. The goal of the programs is to educate so they become better drivers, by meeting people with injuries that can happen to them also. Even though Kristen was not in a vehicle accident it is similar to one caused in car accidents. Kristen was very frank with them. As she was being wheeled back upstairs she started to laugh. She had been asking God how she can serve Him since she is paralyzed. It was a very important conversation to have with God. Well the Lord showed her that no matter what condition you are in He will still use you if your heart is open to Him. Please prayerfully consider helping out our Kristen.
Organiser and beneficiary
Jennifer Castillo
Organiser
Grain Valley, MO
Andrew Hocker
Beneficiary
