For Friends of Karen the past year has been filled with both uplifting and heartbreaking stories demonstrating the strength, resilience and courage of the precious children and their loving families we are privileged to serve. We’ve spotlighted a few in this year’s Annual Report that represent the diversity of situations that we address every day. In our 46 years of…
“My son Kelvi was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 10 and relapsed at 14 while on treatment, making this a very long journey for Kelvi and our family. Thank God we connected with Friends of Karen, because they became a great support system for me and my children. Our Friends of Karen social worker Rhonda provided emotional support…
At just five months old Carina from Westchester County, NY was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an immune system disorder causing damaging inflammation and multi-organ failure. Carina received chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant to treat her HLH. As a result of the transplant, Carina developed severe Graft-Versus-Host Disease that occurs when the donated cells attack the recipient’s cells…
Alex was two months old when he was diagnosed with a genetic disorder affecting his mitochondrial metabolism that impaired his body’s cells from producing energy. There is no cure for these disorders, so Alex received supportive care. When Alex’s condition worsened, he was enrolled in hospice and his mother, Xheni, and father, Serdi, were referred to Friends of Karen. The…
“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…
Jayden’s parents, Jose and Mary, are deeply grateful for the unwavering support they’ve received from Friends of Karen. Jose recently shared with their social worker Marla, “Without Friends of Karen, we would have had to sell our house,” underscoring the life-changing impact Friends of Karen has had on their lives during such a difficult time.
In October of 2020 Jennifer was an athletic ten-year old who loved to swim, skate, play football and bicycle ride. One day she started to complain that she felt pain in her body, but her father Miguel thought she might just be sore from all her activities. Over time it did not get better, so he took her to the…
Micah was a seven-year-old boy who was diagnosed as a one-year-old with Menkes Disease, a genetic disorder that affects copper metabolism. He lived in the Bronx with his mother Cindy and his older brothers, Terrence (17) and Jahziah (12). Friends of Karen assisted the family with emotional support during end of life and has continued bereavement support after he died…
WESTCHESTER HEADQUARTERS
118 Titicus Road
North Salem, NY 10560
(914) 277-4547
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Melville, NY 11747
(631) 473-1768
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217 W 18th Street, Unit 2015
New York, NY 10011
(212) 308-1378
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