Mark Keffer and Family

Hi, I'm Claire, and I'm raising funds to support my dear friend Mark Keffer and his family during a stressful medical challenge. Mark is a kind, humble, and incredibly caring person. He's a funny and loving father and husband, loyal friend, and dedicated teacher who cares deeply about his students. That big heart of his ran into some trouble, however, nearly three years ago. In the summer of 2020, he started experiencing shortness of breath doing basic things like coming up the stairs and bending to tie his shoes. Nine months and many tests later (it was Covid and it took forever to see doctors in person), Mark and his family finally had a diagnosis: pericarditis. This is a rare condition in which the sac around the heart becomes inflamed. We will probably never know what the original cause of it was.

What we do know is it has been a very long few years of more tests and numerous rounds of steroids and other drugs to try and reduce the inflammation and the possibility of damage to the pericardium, the heart, and other organs. Mark has been incredibly brave and patient throughout all of this. His love for physiology and anatomy gives him a curiosity for what was going on in his own body, which has made the process more bearable.

After several rounds of treatment, it has become apparent that Mark needs open-heart surgery to remove the pericardium. Initial infection and the inflammation that followed this have caused some hardening of the pericardium, which keeps the heart from expanding during each beat. On February 26, he and his wife Sharon head to Mass General for 7-10 days, where Mark will undergo a pericardectomy. It's a big operation, but Mark is young and healthy and the doctors doing the procedure are experts in the field. They say it will cure his problem and take away the worries that have become part of their daily lives.

He'll be in the hospital for about a week after the operation. Friends are kindly caring for their daughter Siena during the first half of his stay while Sharon heads down with Mark. Siena is super excited about so many overnights with friends!

Hopefully by March 5 or 6, Mark can come home. By the time he leaves, he’ll be able to manage stairs and take care of personal needs. But it’ll take time before he can teach a full day or go for a bike ride. He'll recuperate at home for about 2 months and by summer, given his age and good health, he should be back and able to enjoy all of his favorite activities. He’s looking forward to catching up on good books and welcoming spring!

Mark and Sharon need to make a few trips to Boston for the surgery and post-operation visits. These trips are expensive and are placing a financial burden on Mark and his family during an already challenging time. While Sharon loves camping, (and Boston Commons is near Mass General) they're going to skip the tent and camp stove this time and book a hotel ;). They also need to meet insurance deductibles and co-pays, which add up. Lastly, they have to close their yurt Airbnb for a big chunk of time, so the loss of income is also significant.

If family and friends can pitch in to help Mark and his family with the financial challenges of the trips to Boston and expenses related to the surgery, they can focus their energies on the love and support that is needed for a quick and full recovery.

Mark, Sharon, and Siena are so appreciative of your care! They have felt your love and concern during these last many years and your friendship and support mean a tremendous amount to them. They have faced many changes in the last decade, many wonderful and some more challenging, and it has been inspiring to watch them meet them with grace, grit, and love. This one is a Big Life Event, and we all have the opportunity to show our love by helping to shepherd them safely to the other side. Mark and Sharon are both extremely capable and resourceful people, and in my experience, they are more comfortable giving than receiving. My heart is full as I envision being able to ease their journey through this challenging time, and I hope you will feel the same, and join me in pitching in!

With appreciation,

Claire Dacey