Category: All Content
A father’s story: Embracing Support When Things Got Tough
February 1, 2024
Celeste is 3 and 1/2-years-old and in the maintenance phase of treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that was diagnosed in October 2022. Her father Rafael shares how he and his wife Gwen coped through Friends of Karen’s support. “Everything was going well for us. We were expecting a new baby and we decided to send Celeste temporarily to my parents’
The unbreakable bond of sisters
January 5, 2024
When Christa was being treated for Leukemia, she and her beloved sister Skyla participated in Friends of Karen’s Sibling Support Program. Her mother Georgette, thinking it was a stomach bug, brought Christa to see the doctor. He told mom that Christa’s blood count was low. In 2021 five-year-old Christa began to complain of frequent stomach aches. Her mother Georgette, thinking
45 Years of Caring Because of You
January 5, 2024
In 45 years of service to the New York metro area community, Friends of Karen has demonstrated time and again a special way of caring. The legacy of kindness and compassion that our founder Sheila Petersen exemplified when she brought a quality of life to a gravely ill teen, Karen MacInnes, and her family so many years ago has been replicated thousands of times.
Friends of Karen Celebrates Selection as a Stop & Shop Community Bag Program Beneficiary
January 3, 2024
North Salem, New York – Friends of Karen has been selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program for the month of January.
The Stop & Shop Community Bag Program, which launched in May 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work.
Beautiful Bella and Linda – Making Spirits Bright
December 15, 2023
Children (and their families) battling serious illnesses like cancer are often described as “warriors’ ‘ and “fighters” conjuring up images of slaying dragons and knockouts in a boxing ring. Though these are certainly powerful and appropriate metaphors for the big, bold and resilient people we meet at Friends of Karen, equally inspiring are those who radiate a quiet beauty- selfless
Katonah Connect, The Meaningful Connections Issue November / December 2023
November 22, 2023
When you walk up to the doors of Friends of Karen headquarters in North Salem, the first thing you might notice is their walkway – a “path of compassion” filled with several hundred dedicated bricks featuring loving messages and tributes from supporters. It demonstrates how this local organization has changed the lives of thousands by providing customized support for over 550 sick children and their families annually. Friends of Karen began in 1978 by Sheila Petersen, a friend of the MacInnes family whose 16-year-old daughter Karen was suffering from a rare genetic disorder.
Sibling Grief Month
November 21, 2023
“The loss of a brother or sister is not small, unimportant or invisible. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I call sibling loss the ‘loss of a lifetime,’ because who else do we expect to have relationships with that stretch our entire lives?” – Lynn Shattuck Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month is an annual designation observed in November. The death of
Friends of Karen delivers gifts and smiles for the holidays with your help
November 14, 2023
NORTH SALEM, NY, November 14, 2023 — Help Friends of Karen deliver gifts and smiles for the holidays! Nearly 900 Holiday Wish Lists need to be filled this year. Join us in helping fulfill a child’s wish list or fill the lists for several children.
Thank You
November 7, 2023
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who celebrated our Friends of Karen 45th Anniversary Gala. It is your generosity and commitment that allows us to continue our vital mission. Your presence and support truly made the evening a memorable one! Your dedication to our mission helps us to continue to provide financial,
Meet Cameron and Brinley
November 6, 2023
Brinley, age 9 and her sister Cameron, age 6, met with Friends of Karen Creative Arts Therapist Jane and created “I am” posters. The “I am” posters helped to discuss who they are and if the cancer diagnosed changed any of these things. They agree they are still themselves despite all the changes happening in their lives and but sometimes
How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events
November 1, 2023
Television and newspapers today are filled with headlines about the tragic conflict with Israel and Palestine, and the brutal war between Ukraine and Russia. In this very difficult time, children want to know what’s going on in the world and may be asking you questions about what they have heard discussed or seen in the media. The American Academy of
A Survivorship Story: Supporting the Transition After Treatment
September 15, 2023
Friends of Karen began a pilot program in late 2022 to continue to provide a limited number of supports to children who have gone off formal treatment, but continue to have serious healthcare, social and educational needs. Olivia’s mother Johanna shares more below about how Friends of Karen has helped her family during this crucial stage, after Olivia was treated
Helping Children Understand Leukemia
September 1, 2023
Our Sibling Support Program team of four child life specialists and creative arts therapists knows that learning about an illness is different than understanding it. Often when illnesses are not explained to children in an age-appropriate manner they may fill in the gaps with their imaginations, creating stories that may be even scarier than the reality. To help ill children,
Back to School Jitters, Tips and Tricks
August 18, 2023
Back to school season has long been a busy time at Friends of Karen. For weeks employees and volunteers have been tirelessly working to fulfill school supply lists for our Friends of Karen children and their siblings. It is all well worth it when we receive photos of the adorable children smiling ear to ear with the wonderful backpacks
Sibling Spotlight: Brandon the Wonder
July 19, 2023
The feeling of support and connection between the families and staff is deep rooted and families will often look to the Family Support team as a lifeline in challenging times. This month’s very special Sibling Spotlight, Brandon, was only two years old when his older sister Melanie died after a long battle with cancer.
A SIBLING STORY: Finding A Way Through Grief
June 15, 2023
Cooper, now seven years old, participated in the Friends of Karen Sibling Support program with creative arts therapist Siobhan. Cooper’s mother Joan shared that Friends of Karen’s ongoing support has been helpful as they grieve the loss of Cooper’s older brother Astor. Astor passed away at age eight after being treated for Childhood Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder
Friends of Karen elects Steven Connolly, Dr. Gina Lodolini and Dr. Sarah Norris to serve on its Board of Directors.
May 18, 2023
Friends of Karen, a nonprofit organization that supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families living in the Tri-State area, announced that Steven Connolly, Dr. Gina Lodolini and Dr. Sarah Norris have been elected as members of the Board of Directors.
Mother’s Day 2023
May 18, 2023
The Friends of Karen Family Support Team develops strong bonds with the families they work with through the span of many months and at times years. Though every family is unique and we view each member of the family as special, the boundless love and strength of the mothers inspire our continuous and steadfast support. We know that so often
A Mom Story: The gift of more time to care
May 18, 2023
Logan is a four-year-old boy who was diagnosed in 2022 with Aplastic Anemia, which is characterized by bone marrow failure when the body stops producing enough new blood cells. His mother, Elizabeth, a registered nurse, shares how Friends of Karen helped her, Logan and his twin sister Gianna, his older siblings Jayda and Jeremy, and his father Ismael as they
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