CARE FOR COLEEN

I am putting together this campaign on behalf of my twin sister, Coleen Kent.  She has been battling what doctors believe is some form of Auto Immune Disease for more than 15 years, however in the past 6 weeks her condition has reached a critical level and she is no longer able to carry on her normal life.  Coleen is not one to ask for help, which is why I am doing so on her behalf.  Myself and other members of her family are doing all we can to assist her, but the financial burden is becoming more than any of us can manage. 

For those of you who know Coleen, you know how generous she is with her time and energy, and that she spends her life working tirelessly for what she believes in.  Until 6 weeks ago Coleen maintained a full time job as a Vet-Tech at the Great Plains ASPCA in Kansas City. She also volunteered her time with KC Angel Rescue and Pet Ex Rescue and Transport, working relentlessly to find unwanted animals good homes. She fosters animals herself at her own financial expense, drives transports on the weekends to help dogs get to their new homes, works at feral cat clinics to help spay and neuter cats and dogs to cut down on over population, and volunteers her time to help with many fundraisers and animal rights events.  In addition when Coleen was in better health, helped countless friends, family, and acquaintances get their pets to and from veterinary visits.  She has given many of us so much, and now she needs us to give something back.

For the last 6 weeks Coleen has been confined to her home, or the hospital, unable to work her job, or do any of her volunteer work.  It has been very difficult on her emotionally, as well as physically.  The doctors are at a stand still and have not been able to find a diagnosis or treatment for Coleen.  She has spent the last 6 weeks seeing numerous specialists, having her medications worked and reworked, and has gone through countless diagnosis’s that have all come to a dead end.  Coleen is on a list for the Mayo Clinic and we are hopeful that they will be able to help, but once admitted the treatment will be expensive and could take weeks or months. She is in a substantial amount of pain, has difficulty breathing as her lungs seem to be failing, has a difficult time eating as her intestines, stomach, liver and kidneys are not functioning properly, and has restricted movement due to swelling and pain in her joints and chest, as well as migraines and high blood pressure. All this and she is only 40.  She is much to young to be facing such severe illness.

Her employer has been incredibly helpful in trying to get her set up with short term disability pay, and luckily she does have some insurance, however 60% of her paycheck, when she normally also worked a great deal of over time in just not enough. Coleen is battling with her health and it takes all she has to maintain a positive outlook despite the pain and lack of information as to when or if the doctors can get her back to her cheerful, giving, motivated, self.  Meanwhile the bills are adding up, she is falling behind on her mortgage and bills, and the medical expenses add up daily as she is faced with large co-pays for specialists, specialized tests, hospital stays, and numerous prescriptions. Insurance helps but, most prescriptions are experimental and insurance will not cover the costs of many of the things she needs.  The trip to Mayo, which is our final hope, she will have to travel to Minnesota and we will be adding more costs for plane tickets, hotels, additional co-pays, as well as the expense of having someone care for Coleen’s rescue and foster dogs that she continues to assist in her home despite her illness.

Coleen has given so much to so many, now its time to give a little support back.  Please help her through this tough time. While she battles her illness lets at least ease her financial stress so she can focus on her health. 

Every little bit helps.  Even the price of one gourmet coffee adds up quickly.  It just takes 5 cups of coffee to cover generic prescription co-pay. 8 cups covers co-pay for a specialist.  It takes very little to make a BIG difference if we all pull together for Coleen.

Thank you in advance for your Kindness and Support.  It is in these challenging times that we see the strength and value of Friends, Family, and the Kindness of Strangers.

Shana Kent