Support Kathy's & Lorenzo's COVID Recovery

I’ve known Kathy for five months.

Why would I spend time creating a GoFundMe for someone I’ve known for only five months?

Because Kathy’s influence on me and thousands of others like me has been nothing short of life-changing. I found her after nearly 20 years of dealing with a medical condition I didn’t even know the name of.

Kathy and I have in common a chronic autoimmune disease called lichen sclerosus (LS). It’s not rare, but people don’t want to talk about it, so it can make you feel like you’re the only person in the world struggling with this disease.

But Kathy wants to talk about it. Kathy wants to talk about lichen sclerosus. All. The. Time. She wants to talk about it so much that younger generations and future generations will be aware of this disease and won’t have to go through the pain and suffering that millions before them did.

You discover this is Kathy’s passion the moment you find her, whether through her podcast, support group, DMs, or interviews with members of the medical community. She is knee-deep in the hard work it takes, giving 110% into everything she does, sometimes at the expense of her own sleep or time with her family members. She is building a community throughout the world where people can receive and provide emotional and mental support for lichen sclerosus.

But now Kathy’s work in the community has come to a halt. And she and her husband have a new disease to battle: COVID.

Kathy was hospitalized due to COVID on 9/28/21 with shortness of breath, heart flutters, and a blood oxygen level of 84. Her husband, Lorenzo, was admitted four days prior to the same hospital, also experiencing symptoms of COVID.

Kathy and Lorenzo spent a painful week apart from one another on different floors of the hospital, at first communicating through text. Then, even texting became too taxing. After several days in the hospital, Lorenzo’s condition wouldn’t stabilize. He had to be moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to be placed on a ventilator. Kathy’s condition stabilized, but she was fighting a secondary infection, pneumonia.

We are pleased to share that after one week of relying on oxygen therapy, battling pneumonia, and being unable to leave her bed for six days, Kathy has been discharged from the hospital as of 10/05/21. She is excited to continue her rehab at home with their two young daughters, but Lorenzo remains in the ICU at the hospital on a ventilator in serious condition. He is able to lay only on his stomach and requires 40 L of oxygen, but his blood oxygen is improving. Kathy is winded after spending six days immobile. She made it through the hospital stay, but she still needs to rest and recover and cannot return fully to her work within the community.

With Lorenzo being unable to work for the past two weeks, his employment status with his current frontline position is uncertain. Kathy is worried about making ends meet once out of the hospital, not to mention that Lorenzo’s condition remains serious. We don’t know at this point when Lorenzo will be well enough to head home to be with Kathy and their girls.

Kathy is asking for continued thoughts, prayers, and manifestations for Lorenzo.

But as a part of her community, we want to provide another opportunity to support her. We want to lift Kathy and Lorenzo up and help give back to someone who has given us so much. We welcome you to do the same.

Kathy has touched the lives of thousands through her podcast, support group, fundraising efforts to launch a not-for-profit, interviews, and professional relationships with the medical and health communities.

Through her work in the LS community, she has brought light into darkness, ushered in hope over fear, and for some, has provided the will to keep on living.

This ask for donations is not coming from Kathy. It’s coming from those who have been touched by Kathy’s dedication, generosity, and unwavering commitment to the LS community.

It’s the least we can do to give back to someone who continues to give so much.

100% of funds donated (minus any fees as required for using GoFundMe) will go directly to Kathy and her family to help cover rent for their home, utilities, electricity, food, expenses for their kids, and eventually medical bills.

Thank you so much for supporting Kathy, Lorenzo, and their family in whatever way you are able. If you feel led to do so, please share this GoFundMe page with your networks and contacts to help spread the word.

We will provide updates here on Kathy’s and Lorenzo’s progress as we receive them.

With love and positivity,

Emily | Friend of Kathy & Lorenzo and Fellow LS Warrior