Please Help Karen’s Fight Back to Health

Hi, my name is Karen. I'm a Partner, Sister, Daughter and Dog mom living in delightful Dunedin Florida. I love travelling, being outside, and doing anything involving the ocean.

Being a Pilates and fitness instructor for over 2 decades, I've always tried to keep myself in good health. Exercise is a way of life, and I grow my own produce in my hydroponic gardens in my home. This summer, however, things changed. I started experiencing what I thought were cardiac symptoms. Long story short, after a trip to the emergency room, several tests, and a bunch of new doctors, masses were found near my right lung and on my liver. The mass in my chest is compressing my airway and collapsing my right lung. To help figure out what is going on, so far I’ve had an EBUS Bronchoscopy, and ION Robotic Bronchoscopy, CT Scans, and a PET scan. So far, it has been determined that I have 2 4.5cm masses impacting my right lung, which impead the way my heart and lung work. I also have a 4.5cm mass on the right side of my thyroid. Results are in, and the genetic markers of my thyroid biopsy signify that I do have thyroid cancer.

I took the big step of going to Moffitt Cancer Center for my continued exploration and treatment of my conditions. Long story short, and after a week of in-patient care at Moffitt Cancer Center, my biopsies revealed that I have stage IV Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the lung. I'll be starting chemo and immunotherapy soon. While this cancer is treatable, it is not curable.

Of course, the weight of this news is shocking, scary, and quite hard to believe. The other part of this news is the financial impact of it all. Not only have I accrued expensive medical bills from the discovery of my issues, continued care costs are adding up and coming due. I've had to let go of about half of my work, which is super scary. While I do have medical insurance (a higher-deductible plan), and while I do love my job, I do not receive benefits, paid days off or medical leave in my chosen line of work. Further, I only get paid when I work.

I'm seeking financial help to help me pay for my medical bills and assist me with living expenses through treatment. Any help is so greatly appreciated.

Thank you so very much for your love and support.