Katrinia Emerick Bennett is a young mother with liver cancer who is awaiting a liver transplant.

Katrinia was born and raised in Pasadena. She spent her youth playing girls softball and graduated from college on a softball scholarship. She went on to teach in the Pasadena and Deer Park School Districts. She truly loved teaching and also coached cheer leading for the district.

Katrinia had always been healthy and active, so the dark patches of skin that she had were not a big worry to her. Nonetheless, she consulted with her doctor and was given the awful news that despite the fact that she had not been a drinker, she had cirrhosis of the liver. Not only that, but further tests revealed that she also had autoimmune hepatitis. Her body was rejecting its own liver – it attacked it as if it were something foreign. The tests also showed that it was in a late stage of the disease, so she probably had it since she was a teenager.

But, Katrinia is not the type to take things lightly. She enrolled in a fast forward nursing program and is now a registered nurse. She felt the need to understand what was happening with her body, and she now had a new opportunity to serve others through nursing.

Despite what she has been through, Katrinia’s faith in God has sustained her, and He has brought many blessings into her life: a large, supportive group of family and friends, a caring husband, and the light of her life – her son Thomas. It has not been an easy path, to say the least. Thomas is actually her third child. After she was married, she and her husband Paul consulted the doctor and were given the go-ahead to start a family. Her first pregnancy resulted in the conception of twin boys. She and all those around her were delighted! But sadly, it was not to be. The higher risk of a multiple birth brought on a condition called “Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome”. This was not related to her pre-existing condition. It can be experienced by any mother carrying twins. One twin experiences more blood supply than the other. Sadly, the twins were lost, despite the fact that they made it to their second trimester.

But hope comes in the morning, and it was not long before her beloved son Thomas was born. Thomas was not yet a year old when Katrinia received the news that she had liver cancer and must get a transplant.

Katrinia is now in the fight of her life. She is currently on the transplant list and awaiting a new liver. Her transplant expenses will be monumental. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated
Family and friends of Katrinia Bennett are raising money to pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Katrinia has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive provides both tax-deductibility and fiscal accountability to contributors. Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thanks for your support!