Karen MacDonald - An Angel on Earth

UPDATE: On November 15, our sweet Karen was called home to God. Our angel on earth is now our angel in heaven. We are devastated and heart broken by this loss. We thank everyone who has donated to this cause, it is truly appreciated by the MacDonald family. We know Karen’s spirit and wisdom will live on in the lives she’s touched and in the lives of her family.

A dear friend of ours is fighting for her life for the second time in 11 years.

In 2000, Karen MacDonald was diagnosed with a rare degenerative liver disease. In 2010, her disease progressed and she was placed on a transplant list, where she waited for approximately 18 months. Finally, in 2012, her son's elementary school EA underwent testing and was a match! She selflessly became a live liver donor, ultimately saving Karen's life.

For the past 11 years, Karen has been maintaining her health and taking her antirejection medications, eternally grateful to have a second chance at life. Unfortunately, a side effect of these medications is that they can contribute to the development of cancer and that's exactly what they did.

On Monday, April 17 Karen MacDonald was diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer and given a prognosis of a few months. She is currently undergoing further testing at Toronto General to determine where the cancer has spread and a potential plan for chemotherapy, to help prolong her time. Additionally, her team is working to get her home safely with her feeding tube and IVs.

Anyone that knows Karen knows that she is the epitome of an Angel on Earth. Karen has dedicated her life to family, faith and community. She is an active member of her church and a longtime member of a Durham-based Charity, dedicated to improving the lives of children with special needs. She is a person who looks at her glass half full, every single time, no matter what life has thrown at her. Her smile and positive energy can light up any room and she has truly made the world a better place.

Anyone that knows the MacDonald family knows their heart, their strength and their struggles. This is a family that is recognized and loved by their community. Many of us have walked alongside them on this journey before and we sure as hell are walking alongside them this time!

We are asking for donations to assist with any costs associated with this journey that the family may incur. The money will go directly to the family to assist with offsetting any medical costs (e.g., hospital bed for home), transportation to and from the hospital, including parking, groceries, and so much more.

Please consider donating what you can to help the most deserving family during this difficult time. Please also share this Go Fund Me page and help us reach our goal of $25,000!

PS. Check out this video from when the community rallied together to support the family back in 2011, giving them a Christmas to remember. I am confident that we can rally together again for this family and give them the support that they need during this time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orv0lgZ3Cbk