Kari Conway's PledgePage
Hi. My name is Kari and this is my mission statement and a little about me!
I am a 35 year old single mom of 2 wonderful kids. Before I got sick I was a fulltime dental assistant and a computer tech. Both of which I miss not being able to do much anymore, but hope to do again when God willing I get well enough. I love the San Francisco 49ers, jet skiing and have a passion for life. I also enjoy reading the Toltec books that Don Miguel Ruiz writes. In fact those books inspire me to keep going and fighting against my illnesses and all of life�s struggles.
I have 2 children, zeque and zoe. These are the people who keep me going everyday, no matter what.
I am also a big believer in charity work, I love to help... I lived through a very bad violent marriage and this has inspired me to speak out against domestic violence as well as organizing and planning the Locks Of Love charity events in the Reno and Idaho areas. Most recently, i joined G-pact, a non-profit organization helping those with gastric paresis. January of 2010, I started my own charity called "Small change makes big cents", its a charity to help myself and others raise money for medical care by collecting pennies. I find that helping others really helps me, but I never really expected that one day I might need to reach out for help from others. I hope that others will be willing to give of themselves as I have over the years.
With that said here is what has lead me to this site to ask for help. Eleven years ago, I had a tumor on my left ovary this lead to a total hysterectomy at the age of 23. Three years later, after getting the results of a bad blood test I was diagnosed by a liver specialist with what is called NASH(non-alcoholic steatosis hepatitis). It is a disease that causes too much fat to be stored in your liver and eventually in most cases turns to chirosis of the liver. Yet again more recently I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and Gastric Paresis(paralyzing of the stomach). I have had 13 surgeries, 200+ procedures and my second home has become the hospital. All 3 diseases are non curable, which has been very difficult to deal with, but I try my hardest to keep my head up and have a positive attitude. Although it is hard being only 35 and fighting everyday for the energy to get out of bed and do the things that I need to do for my children, all of things that healthy people take for granted.
Currently I am only working part time due to the intense pain that I experience every day. Its really hard just being "ME" most days and dealing with all the stress and pain that I have, let alone asking for help with money. I know I can�t do this alone. So that is why I am here asking for donations that will help with my medical expenses. I would like to get the chance to go to San Francisco where they have a gastric paresis center. This center offers many different options on dealing with gastric paresis, including gastric pacemakers, J-tubes and much more. Also looking into Mayo clinic's as i hear alot of good things about them. There are many great hospitals and doctors, but with no insurance and or money i cant even get into the front door! ;-(
So I am asking humbly with everything that I have and am for everyone to please help. Send in whatever you can spare, even that change I know your hiding in the couch cushions, you know who you are! Every cent adds up! Thank You so much for visiting! Read the diary section, I plan on writing a lot! Please sign the guestbook, I want to know who visits! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Much Love, Kari
P.S
Please pass along any information on either disease, if it cant help me, ill pass the information on to someone it can! Together we can find a cure!
UPDATE 11-19-09
OK SO IM SETTING UP AN APPT WITH A SPECIALIST AT STANFORD, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE GASTRO NURSE AND SHE SAID THAT IT IS 400-800 DOLLARS FOR JUST THE FIRST VISIT, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS I KNOW!!!! BUT I HAVE TO COME UP WITH IT. MY STOMACH IS BEGINNING TO DECAY NOW AND MY LIVER IS PROGRESSING......SO WE NEED TO START THE PENNY DRIVE ASAP. I WOULD BE GREATLY HAPPY IF WE COULD ALL PULL TOGETHER AND COLLECT AS MANY PENNIES AS POSSIBLE. I THINK WE CAN PUT JARS ALMOST ANYWHERE, AT WORK(AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO)AND WHEREVER ELSE PEOPLE WILL LET YOU.....I DONT KNOW....SEND ANY IDEAS MY WAY! IM REALLY SCARED AND WORRIED RIGHT ABOUT NOW....ALL I KNOW IS THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT DOCTOR VISIT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!! LOVE YOU ALL AND THANKS
UPDATE 12-1-09
My appt at Stanford is March 25th! So lets raise this money! ;-)
UPDATE 1-10-10
Penny drive is started.....it will be called "small change makes big cents!" Decorate old pickle or other empty jars and put them up at work and or other places. Every penny counts. Thanks and Big Loves! Be sure to,Check out the Links page, there is a link to the Small change makes big cents organization. ;-)
UPDATE February 2010
People have been asking me what a normal day is like for me, i promise this weekend i will write a day in life of Kari in my diary, be sure to check it out!
February 25th 2010
My liver cell death is rising. 53 points in 12 days, thats not good. Im bummed!
I am a 35 year old single mom of 2 wonderful kids. Before I got sick I was a fulltime dental assistant and a computer tech. Both of which I miss not being able to do much anymore, but hope to do again when God willing I get well enough. I love the San Francisco 49ers, jet skiing and have a passion for life. I also enjoy reading the Toltec books that Don Miguel Ruiz writes. In fact those books inspire me to keep going and fighting against my illnesses and all of life�s struggles.
I have 2 children, zeque and zoe. These are the people who keep me going everyday, no matter what.
I am also a big believer in charity work, I love to help... I lived through a very bad violent marriage and this has inspired me to speak out against domestic violence as well as organizing and planning the Locks Of Love charity events in the Reno and Idaho areas. Most recently, i joined G-pact, a non-profit organization helping those with gastric paresis. January of 2010, I started my own charity called "Small change makes big cents", its a charity to help myself and others raise money for medical care by collecting pennies. I find that helping others really helps me, but I never really expected that one day I might need to reach out for help from others. I hope that others will be willing to give of themselves as I have over the years.
With that said here is what has lead me to this site to ask for help. Eleven years ago, I had a tumor on my left ovary this lead to a total hysterectomy at the age of 23. Three years later, after getting the results of a bad blood test I was diagnosed by a liver specialist with what is called NASH(non-alcoholic steatosis hepatitis). It is a disease that causes too much fat to be stored in your liver and eventually in most cases turns to chirosis of the liver. Yet again more recently I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and Gastric Paresis(paralyzing of the stomach). I have had 13 surgeries, 200+ procedures and my second home has become the hospital. All 3 diseases are non curable, which has been very difficult to deal with, but I try my hardest to keep my head up and have a positive attitude. Although it is hard being only 35 and fighting everyday for the energy to get out of bed and do the things that I need to do for my children, all of things that healthy people take for granted.
Currently I am only working part time due to the intense pain that I experience every day. Its really hard just being "ME" most days and dealing with all the stress and pain that I have, let alone asking for help with money. I know I can�t do this alone. So that is why I am here asking for donations that will help with my medical expenses. I would like to get the chance to go to San Francisco where they have a gastric paresis center. This center offers many different options on dealing with gastric paresis, including gastric pacemakers, J-tubes and much more. Also looking into Mayo clinic's as i hear alot of good things about them. There are many great hospitals and doctors, but with no insurance and or money i cant even get into the front door! ;-(
So I am asking humbly with everything that I have and am for everyone to please help. Send in whatever you can spare, even that change I know your hiding in the couch cushions, you know who you are! Every cent adds up! Thank You so much for visiting! Read the diary section, I plan on writing a lot! Please sign the guestbook, I want to know who visits! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Much Love, Kari
P.S
Please pass along any information on either disease, if it cant help me, ill pass the information on to someone it can! Together we can find a cure!
UPDATE 11-19-09
OK SO IM SETTING UP AN APPT WITH A SPECIALIST AT STANFORD, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE GASTRO NURSE AND SHE SAID THAT IT IS 400-800 DOLLARS FOR JUST THE FIRST VISIT, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS I KNOW!!!! BUT I HAVE TO COME UP WITH IT. MY STOMACH IS BEGINNING TO DECAY NOW AND MY LIVER IS PROGRESSING......SO WE NEED TO START THE PENNY DRIVE ASAP. I WOULD BE GREATLY HAPPY IF WE COULD ALL PULL TOGETHER AND COLLECT AS MANY PENNIES AS POSSIBLE. I THINK WE CAN PUT JARS ALMOST ANYWHERE, AT WORK(AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO)AND WHEREVER ELSE PEOPLE WILL LET YOU.....I DONT KNOW....SEND ANY IDEAS MY WAY! IM REALLY SCARED AND WORRIED RIGHT ABOUT NOW....ALL I KNOW IS THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT DOCTOR VISIT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!! LOVE YOU ALL AND THANKS
UPDATE 12-1-09
My appt at Stanford is March 25th! So lets raise this money! ;-)
UPDATE 1-10-10
Penny drive is started.....it will be called "small change makes big cents!" Decorate old pickle or other empty jars and put them up at work and or other places. Every penny counts. Thanks and Big Loves! Be sure to,Check out the Links page, there is a link to the Small change makes big cents organization. ;-)
UPDATE February 2010
People have been asking me what a normal day is like for me, i promise this weekend i will write a day in life of Kari in my diary, be sure to check it out!
February 25th 2010
My liver cell death is rising. 53 points in 12 days, thats not good. Im bummed!