Help Laurie “Lulu” in her Battle with MS

Anybody who knows Laurie “Lulu” Steffen-Carpenter knows:

1. She ALWAYS has a smile on her face.

2. She is selfless and empathetic – she ALWAYS worries about others before herself.

3. She is a loving and devoted mother of three beautiful children.

4. She HATES accepting any kind of charity.

However you've been graced with Lulu’s presence, we can all agree that she's made a lasting impact on us all.

What you may not know is that she has been fighting a losing battle with Multiple Sclerosis for over 25 years.

In the summer of 1996, Laurie noticed that she was dropping things and getting prickly tingling and burning feelings. In December of 1996 she had a brain biopsy and was told that she had a disease similar to Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but that it was treatable with steroids. If the symptoms were to return, then it was most likely MS.

The outlook was positive for the next four years, but after having her first child, daughter Alix, in 2000 she began having symptoms again. It was then that her life changed forever. She was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting MS.

Despite having recurring attacks of painful burning, tinnitus, and muscle spasms, Laurie kept smiling and was blessed with two more children, sons Caden and Charlie. She continued to thrive with her dog grooming business while raising her family. In 2009 she started having trouble balancing and feeling extreme tiredness and fatigue every day. These symptoms worsened over the years and by 2018 her ability to walk was increasingly difficult and she lost the ability to control her bladder. Her MS was becoming Progressive.

We were all full of optimism when Laurie was finally approved to receive the medication Ocrevus. By this time, she was confined to a wheelchair but never complained and always welcomed people with her bright blue eyes and beautiful smile. Our high hopes faltered in 2019 when she developed two large pyoderma wounds, a painful infection caused by Ocrevus. These wounds would plague her for the next two years.

As of today, Laurie is unable to walk and confined to her chair. Her hands have limited mobility and constant pain. It is difficult for her to even hold her head up as she deals with extreme fatigue and incontinence. Her symptoms make it impossible for her to work which is why we desperately need your help.

Fortunately, she does receive monthly disability, but that only covers a fraction of her household bills and she has increasing medical requirements. Family and friends are aiding as much as they are able, but costly professional help is needed on a daily basis.

Right now, her biggest concern is being with her 13-year-old son, Charlie. Even as she deals with immense pain and discomfort every minute of every day, she has a smile on her face every time I walk through her door.

To know Laurie is to know her energy and zest for life; it is absolutely heartbreaking to see what this dreadful disease has taken from her and her family.

Please consider a donation to help offset the financial hardships Laurie is facing.

Any small amount is helpful and very much appreciated.

Sincerely, Thank you!

Laurie Carpenter is the beneficiary for this fundraiser.