Elena Courage, Strength and Healing Fund

Friends of Elena

Paul Haas and Robin Knudson are reaching out to ask you to consider joining with us in

making a donation to the Elena Courage, Strength, and Healing Fund. Many of you

know us from our work at Solid Ground: Robin with the WA Reading Corps and Retired

Senior Volunteer Program, and Paul as the Director of Fund Raising.

Many of us FOEs (Friends of Elena) know Elena Semeraro as an absolutely

effervescent and joyous soul, who is all about empathy, community, a bit of mischief,

and most of all FUN. However, failing health and grave personal and financial losses have resulted in serious challenges that will require extraordinary Courage, Strength, Healing, and one more thing: a community of friends, former colleagues, and kind human beings to support Elena with a donation. In a moment we will tell you how the Courage, Strength, and Healing Fund will be a game changer for Elena, but first, here is a brief account of how Elena’s life turned upside down and why we have set up this fund.

Health

Up until about five years ago, Elena was a healthy, vibrant and successful woman

entrepreneur, managing several properties, active in soccer and cycling and

volunteering for various community non-profits. She had a full life. But tragically this all

changed nearly overnight. Elena caught an early case of COVID for which she was hospitalized…for 13 months! This hospitalization included several weeks during which she was in a coma. During this time she also contracted a very frightening bout of Ecoli, and then, at the end of her 13-month hospitalization, she was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. She had surgery, many rounds of radiation, and has been hospitalized multiple times with related complications including pulmonary issues, kidney and bladder issues, and constant leg pain. On November 15th, Elena will undergo yet another surgery to deal with more of the residual internal issues that continue to wreak havoc on her system.

Personal and Financial Loss

In the midst of dealing with health problems, she experienced devastating personal and

financial losses, the latter of which seriously compromised her credit and financial standing.

Currently

Even though Elena has worked hard to secure all the resources that are available to her, deep stress and worry over how to pay for essential expenses have made it nearly impossible to do the work of physically and emotionally healing, regaining strength, and reclaiming a sense of hope for the future. Were it not for the amazing kindness of many long-time friends, Elena would be without housing.

The Next Part of Elena’s Story

The next part of the story will focus on healing, regaining strength and building a sense of hope for the future. Returning to work, reengaging with friends, volunteering with

community non-profits, and a very long walk in the woods to be able to plant a sycamore tree…these are Elena’s aspirations.

Fellow FOEs, with a little help from us, this is all within reach. Donations to the Elena Courage, Strength, and Healing will be used for vital medications, medically related costs not covered by Medicaid, transportation, cell phone, and other expenses that are absolutely essential yet simply beyond Elena’s current capacity to afford. Please note that the Elena Courage, Strength, and Healing Fund will be independently managed by Elena’s longtime friend Robin Knudson.

Once Elena is able to address her more immediate medical and whole-body health issues, and regain her strength in the months ahead, she looks forward to getting back to looking for work, and resuming her active life.

THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO HELP

FIRST…we respectfully ask that you consider making a donation to the Elena Courage,

Strength, and Healing Fund. Our starting goal of $10,000 will help Elena begin her recovery.

SECOND…please spread the word to others in your life who would also be moved to

make a donation, including those whom you think might know, or have worked with

Elena in the past.

THIRD… please feel free to send a message of encouragement and support to Elena.

There is a long road ahead, and it’s good to know that friends are walking alongside

you!

Finally This….

THANK YOU for considering this request to support Elena on the road to healing and

recovery. We look forward to providing periodic updates about the progress Elena is

making and the impact that the Elena Courage, Strength, and Healing fund has made.

If you have questions about the fund, or if you just want to check in about other ways to

support Elena, please contact Robin through the message center. Elena wants to thank everyone personally, but please allow time for her to heal and she will do so as soon as she is able.