Kari Root

My daughter, Kari Root was diagnosed in 2009 with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS) and her health has been on a steady decline ever since. Her prognosis has steadily worsened, and Kari is no longer able to work. She now requires assistance with simple everyday tasks; from household chores and making meals, to getting her kids ready for school, Kari needs treatment for her MS, or her health will continue to deteriorate.

A single mother to three wonderful children, Kari works very hard and is trying to complete her nursing degree. Several MS flare-ups caused her to withdraw from both school and work, but Kari wants nothing more than to stop her condition so she can be there to support her children, and complete her nursing program. Kari has applied for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation treatment (HSCT) at Chicago’s Northwestern University Medical Center, in an effort to overcome her disease progression. This treatment involves stem cells derived from bone marrow, while chemotherapy destroys the malfunctioning immune system. The good cells are then infused into the patient’s body to restart the new immune system and help the body to heal. This treatment is proven to have very promising results in stopping the progression of MS.

HSCT will involve several trips to Chicago from Kari’s home in Lincoln, Nebraska. She will also be required to reside close to the transplant center for up to three months prior to her treatment, and hospitalized for 3 weeks during her transplant. Kari’s recovery can take up to a year, and she will be too sick to work during this period of time. Out of pocket expenses will include co-pays and deductibles, meal fees, doctor visits, lodging and costly flights and transportation fees back and forth to Chicago. Kari will also need a full-time companion to assist her during her transplant, as well as costly post-transplant medications.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Kari’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Midwest/West Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Please help Kari in her quest to fight MS. Any donation, no matter how big or how small, will bring Kari one step closer to her transplant and fighting this horrible disease!

Gratefully,

Susan Root, Kari’s loving Mother
sjr741@hotmail