Help Karen Beat Breast Cancer

Dear friends and family,

Many of you are aware of (and have often contributed to) the annual clothing/Christmas drives I used to do for my best childhood friend, Karen (Reynolds) Hermann who has been raising 3 great grandchildren who were infants and toddlers when their young mother died of cancer. Karen, (a widow living on social security), gave up her life in California (and extended family support she had there) and moved to Oklahoma where she has devoted herself to these youngsters for more than five years now. At 69 years old she has two bulging discs in her back (from carrying babies), COPD, and until recently suffered with pain from tooth abscesses because of no dental insurance. Recently we were able to help her get her badly needed dental work done and a new set of teeth that she was elated to receive. This year she was also able to move from the old hazardous mobile home they lived in to a small house in town, so those have been blessings for which she is very grateful. Our next goal was to raise the funds to pay off her car that would free up $350 a month of badly needed income that would give her much breathing room.

A few weeks ago, Karen received the frightening news that she has breast cancer. She drives herself 1 ½ hours each way to Tulsa for MRI’s, biopsies and appointments-awaiting news that no one should have to face all alone. Soon she goes into surgery for a mastectomy and she is scrambling to make arrangements to get the help she needs to care for the kids as she faces this ordeal. She has 1 adult granddaughter nearby who can offer limited help, but otherwise she is being forced to reach out to neighbors and a local church for help with rides, etc. This is a foreign concept to this woman who has struggled alone for so long.

In January the cost of her supplement to Medicare increased and to save money she went with another company that she now learns pays a fraction of the uncovered costs-potentially making her responsible for 20% out of pocket costs. To add insult to injury, her Medicaid application was turned down stating she made $100 a month too much to qualify—they don’t consider either a car payment or auto insurance a justifiable living expense! She is trying to revert back to her old policy, but in the meantime has had to put these costs onto a credit card.

So, the goal for Karen has become a little bigger, and that’s why I am once again, reaching out to my loving community of friends and family for a hand with this. This is a list of needs that we hope to help supply:

Clothing for Karen: $300 (special blouses for use during recovery), warm sweater, sweats & tennis shoes

 Food Gift Cards: $500 From local restaurants that neighbors can pick up for evening meals (no uber in their small town, easier option with Covid than asking for homemade meal donations from strangers) 

Housecleaner: $200 (Once a month for 3 months)                                                                                                              Medical Copays: $2300

 Pay off existing car Loan: $1700

Total Goal: $5000.00

When Karen first contemplated taking on this huge responsibility she had just moved to Oregon with her sister and niece who just wanted to make her life easier. She previously suffered the tragic death of a daughter, loss of her husband in a car accident, and had been struggling on her own for too long. They shared their lovely, peaceful home, provided her with healthy food, and told her to keep her social security to use on whatever she wanted. When she learned the mother of the kids was dying, there was no question what she needed to do. I pleaded with her to remain with her family that wanted to help her have some quality of life in her “golden” years, and her answer was “what kind of life would that be knowing these kids would be lost in the foster care system?” I said “Karen, this will no doubt lead to your premature death.” Without hesitation, she replied: “Then so be it!”

I don’t know a more selfless person, and it is my prayer that she will feel the love of friends and strangers from afar and that by minimizing some of her stress, we can aid in her swift healing. Her only goal is to live long enough to see these kids grown.

My favorite author, Bob Goff, says: “Love God, love others, and do something.” I doubt I could have taken on the task that my friend has, but I can use my voice to reach out to caring folks who have a heart for orphans and widows and together we can “do something”.

Your help and your prayers are so greatly appreciated!