My name is Karen Franklin. This is the story of why I’m here.
I have been fighting this disease with my liver since I was 24 yrs old and pregnant with my 3rd child. Over the course of several years and in and out of the hospital in Boston, working with a liver specialist we learned I was born with deformed bile ducts. This has caused severe scarring on my liver, which has caused severe infections and a lot of pain. I spend days to sometimes weeks in the hospital treating it with antibiotics and a lot of pain medication. Until Two years ago I had to have a biliary tube placed in my abdomen due to the fact that my liver cannot take anymore abuse. I have to have the tube changed every six weeks, but occasionally have a blockage causing me to get a tube redone much sooner. The tube is only meant to last a few months, it is not a permanent solution. Last year, there were other options discussed, it was determined that I could have a hepatic lobectomy, so I was preparing for this surgery throughout the year. However, In June of this year (2019), during the start of the procedure it was discovered that the surgery would be too risky to perform. My liver needed too much removed and I would not survive the surgery. So back to the drawing board they went.
Updates (2)
September 11, 2019
Over the past few months we’ve been putting together fundraisers and things to help mom with her $5,000 towards her liver medication for her transplant. So far we’ve raised almost $1,900!!
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of Tracy and Lee Mahon for organizing a yard sale and a 50/50 raffle!!
Our lovely family in Zephyrhills has been such a great help in reaching our goal! Our cousin Mel has a fundraising spaghetti dinner scheduled for Sept. 21, 2019! I will post details for that if anyone is interested!
And finally, on Nov. 2, 2019 we will be having a proper English Afternoon Tea! Thank you to Sherry Mahon for all she’s done to help put that together! Information for that will be available soon.
We wouldn’t be this far along without the help of all of our amazing family that’s been helping mom reach her goal!!! Thank you each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. You’ve all made mom feel so blessed to have you all in our lives!
And for all the amazing people who have donated thus far, we cannot thank you enough! It truly means the world to us that there are so many generous people out there!
August 28, 2019
Hello donators! First let me say, Thank you for your support! I cannot express my gratitude to you all for helping!
We want to keep you posted on Karen’s medical updates as well! Karen had a tube exchange 2 weeks ago that ended up with a blockage. She had to go back in and get it exchanged this past Friday. After the new tube her pain minimized!:) But she may not be out of the woods yet, as it seems the change may not have fully helped her issue. We’ll know more of her problem progresses in a couple days. Please keep her in your thoughts or prayers! This has been such a long journey and we’re not at the end yet. We need that new liver!!!
