Putting it in Perspective

As real estate professionals, we worry about a lot of things…. doing right by our clients, finding clients, whether the deal in escrow is going to close so our clients get a home and we get to pay the mortgage this month. The "worry list" is endless.

And while it may seem that our current trails and tribulations in this industry aren't fair, and that life is hell, there are worse things….

Karen George is a young, vibrant real estate lender in Phoenix. I'm sure she had the same worries the rest of us do — problems at work, home, relationships – whatever.  Like every other decent human, she probably fought through her issues on a day-to-day basis, doing what she could and hoping for the best.

Then one day at the ripe old age of 30, Karen found out a lump in her breast had been previously misdiagnosed. What one doctor said was a cyst turned out to be a malignant tumor. 

Karen fought the ultimate battle with this insidious disease, and thought she had it licked.

But it came back. Cancer is like that. Karen, now 32 years old is in yet another battle for her life with Stage IV breast cancer.  Yesterday she had surgery in Scottsdale's Mayo Clinic. She's also undergoing round after round of chemotherapy.

Being an independent contractor in the real estate business means her insurance ranges between non-existent and lousy. Fighting cancer is expensive — incredibly expensive. She's racking up medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars and the last thing she needs to worry about now is how she and her husband can afford the fight. 

Kind of makes any "problems" I have seem rather insignificant, doesn't it?

Calie Waterhouse, a local real estate stager and a guest author on this blog is accepting donations for Karen. Her address is below.

Karen may wonder why a complete stranger such as myself would be posting about her plight, begging readers to donate anything — even a dollar. Well, my life has been touched far too often by cancer — Francy's brother lost a battle with cancer this year. The Matron of Honor at our wedding, Wendy Collins, gallantly fought leukemia and lost. A baby in Sacramento had the same kind of leukemia as Wendy. There is a child in my neighborhood fighting cancer right now. I've had other friends confront cancer — happily some won the fight, sadly others did not.

I hate this disease. 

Karen didn't ask me to write this. She may not even like it as from everything I've read about her, she's not the type to seek sympathy. I wrote it because I felt compelled to help her. If there is anything you can do to help, I know it will be appreciated.

Here is what Calie wrote on her ActiveRain blog about helping Karen:

During the next few months, our Karen needs to be focusing all of her attention and energies towards healing. She has been fighting this battle for a while and needs to know that we all stand behind her; We are here to pray with her, cry with her and most importantly help her through.

Sarah Eubanks came up with this wonderfully giving idea to help our Karen.  In response to the overwhelming requests to help and with Karen's permission, we are asking the A/R community to help ease the burden of the every-day responsibilities. 

Since we are spread all over, instead of sending dinner via Fed Ex, we would like to ask you to send a gift card.

Some ideas include:

• Merry Maids
• Restaurants
• Local Stores (Target, Fry's)

Please send them to:

Karen George
C/O Calie Waterhouse
1900 W. Chandler Blvd. #15-282
Chandler, AZ 85224                                                                         

So, today while you're eating lunch or at Starbucks for an afternoon break, I want  you to think about this:

"Every 2 minutes, there is a new breast cancer diagnosis. Every 14 minutes, a life is lost to the disease. Over 40,000 people will die this year; about 400 of them will be men." (www.breastcancerawareness.com)

If you're able and so inclined, donations can be made through Calie at the address above. Karen has been blogging about her battle with cancer, and here are some moving words from Karen's ActiveRain blog. I'm going to see if I can set up a donation link through PayPal here shortly. PayPal donation link is in the top right corner of the blog. It's EASY folks, just click it and put something — a buck even — on your credit card. 

Godspeed Karen, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

UPDATE:

Karen's surgery was to remove her ovaries and tubes, which were cancerous. She's had to get a blood transfusion due to some hemoglobin problems — so she remains at Mayo. Paula Henry, one of Karen's many cyber-friends, has set up an account for Karen:

The Karen O George Medical Fund

Contributions can be made at any Bank of America or sent to:

Bank of America
13008 N Tatum Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85032

There's also a link in the top right corner of this blog where you can contribute via PayPal/credit card. I will deposit any and all donations received into the BofA account in Karen's name.

Technorati Tags: Karen George, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness

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