Karen Fowler

Karen is a 59 year old mother of two wonderful daughters with two amazing grandsons. Karen has rejoiced in committing her life to providing loving care for her family, many children and their families, elderly, and strangers alike.

On Mother’s Day 2023,Karen suffered a TIA (mini stroke) and while in the hospital she was diagnosed  with End Stage Renal Disease, and other associated issues including, neuropathy, anemia, and diabetes. This was definitely a devastating and unexpected turn of events. She thought she was healthy, and was so busy, working  that she did not keep up with regular physicals. She asks others to please learn from her mistake and keep up with routine blood tests, even when you feel well, because ignorance is Not bliss.

Karen is an optimistic, warm, woman of strong faith, who has a positive personality, and has always had a heart for helping others. She always sees the best in people and loves supporting and encouraging hope in those who need it the most. She has lovingly assembled and delivered hundreds of goody bags to homeless people in and around Philadelphia.

She was an avid volunteer in her community. She enjoyed spending time as a hospital “Baby Cuddler,” offering comfort, prayers, and love to addicted newborn babies.  It was both heart breaking to see, and heart warming to help.  She also found deep joy in volunteering every other Saturday evening at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House for 13 years.  She loved interacting with the families and being a source of encouragement, hope, and comfort during their difficult trials.

Prior to her illness she was a long time motorcycle enthusiast who loved the hills, curves, wind, and being in nature.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, healthy cooking, reading, visiting new places, learning new things, and listening to KLOVE.

It was a miraculous, life changing day,on July 17, 2024, while hooked up to a dialysis machine, when she received a call that there was a kidney waiting for her and to get to the hospital ASAP. It was simply amazing!, as the doctors said it would be a five to seven year wait, and she was only on the transplant list for eight months. She feels so Blessed and so very thankful for her beautiful, lovely kidney donor and her family.

Karen is happy to report that she has been steadily improving since her transplant, but is still suffering from some severe symptoms, including episodes of low blood pressure, worsening leg pain, weakness, numbness, and trouble with walking and balance. She also gets shots in both eyes every four months for retinopathy.

Used to being a helper and not helped, she now needs to rely on the kindness of others, and through Hope Help Live, to fundraise for medical costs, for modalities that are not covered by insurance, including devices and treatments to help with improving mobility, balance, and strength, and hopefully Stem Cell Therapy. She is hopeful for a bright future and looking forward to getting back to living a healthy, strength-filled, mobile, active life again caring for others, as she loves and longs to be able to resume.

 Please donate to Help Hope Live in Karen’s honor today and ask your friends and family to give too! Karen truly appreciates everyone who donates to help her get treatment to facilitate her goal of getting back to making a living caring for others. Please help share her story and need and thank you for your kindness and generosity.

 Help Hope Live is an incredible organization for helping with fundraising medical expenses. However, since her husband’s devastating and sudden passing in March, Karen has been struggling to keep afloat with her health while grieving for the loss of husband. Every donation is appreciated. Please consider a donation. Again, thank you for your kind and generous support, you are truly appreciated!

Our family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in honor of Karen Fowler to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Transplant. Karen has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.