“Valeria, who is now three years old, was born prematurely and spent two months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before coming home. When she was six months old she had complications like failure to thrive. Things got worse when she caught a cold that spiraled into cardiac arrest. A month later Valeria was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Dyskeratosis Congenita that affects bone marrow and more. 

In March 2023 she received a bone marrow transplant and that’s when Friends of Karen entered our lives. Our Friends of Karen social worker Natalia has been a blessing and an incredible source of support. She takes the time to check in, ask how we’re doing, and truly listens. She creates a sense of safety that makes a real difference in our lives.

I basically moved into the hospital to be with my daughter 24 hours a day, so I had to quit my job and give up our apartment. It took almost a year for her to come home. Through it all I still had bills to pay, like my cellphone and car insurance and needed to cover my basic needs. It all left me emotionally and financially broken. How could a jobless single mother manage in this situation? It was only possible because of the help I received from Friends of Karen and the people who donate to Friends of Karen. It wasn’t just ‘money’ to me, it was a blessing, hope and possibilities, and keeping us together when we needed it the most.”

—Marcia, Valeria’s Mother