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
Jayden is a 16-year-old boy from Long Island who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, in January 2021. Jayden was treated and then relapsed in March of 2022 and was given a bone marrow transplant. Jayden’s eyes were damaged by Graft-Versus-Host Disease, a side-effect of the transplant. His family was paired with
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
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
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
“We recently celebrated Mateo being Cancer Free for 2 years! I know that is a special day for you guys too.” – Brianna, Mateo’s mom
The holiday season is upon us and with that comes the inevitable hustle and bustle, excitement and celebration. We hope that your table is filled with abundance; of food, family and friends. We hope that your days, as the song goes, are merry and bright. A common thread that weaves throughout different cultures and religions during the holiday season is
https://www.friendsofkaren.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/instagram-tutorial.mp4 Click share icon triangle/arrow next comment icon Click “Add to story” icon Click photo to reveal story teaser text Click sticker icon to add a link (3rd icon look like a face) Use the search bar for “LINK” Click the word LINK (not the emoji chain link) Copy this url and paste in into the URL section https://bit.ly/friends-of-karen-giving-tuesday-2024 Customize
Previous Next Thank you to everyone who made our Heroes Among Us Gala a success! From our incredible sponsors and honorees to our dedicated board members and amazing attendees—your support means the world to us. The evening’s highlight was hearing the heartfelt stories of Ariana, Christa, and their families, reminding us of how Friends of Karen had their back during
The struggles Friends of Karen families face may appear to be a hurdle in recognizing the positive, yet year after year Friends of Karen children show us that love and appreciation so often grow stronger with struggle. That perspective helps these families recognize what fills their hearts with thanks. We are grateful for our own community at Friends of Karen; the resilient families, compassionate staff and volunteers and the generous donors. Together we belong to a community bond by hope and kindness.
NORTH SALEM, NY— 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 bringing joy to a critically ill child and their siblings by making sure their wishes come true this holiday season.
Meet Regina. Regina created this painting in our Sibling Support Program identifying the different parts of her heart, which includes the names of family members.
What a night to remember at the New York Islanders game on Saturday, October 26th at UBS Arena where Friends of Karen was honored to be one of the featured charities for their Hockey With A Heart program! We were thrilled to invite three Friends of Karen Families to attend the game as special guests. Seeing their excitement and joy
Friends of Karen, an organization dedicated to providing critical support to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, is thrilled to announce their “Heroes Among Us” Gala, is set to take place on November 8, 2024.
For those who celebrate, Halloween is a fun and exciting time for kids.
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But what do you do when your child is missing out on the fun? Whether staying home is necessary for the immunocompromised, or an ill child is stuck in the hospital for treatment, this disappointing situation is common for many of our Friends of Karen families.
Thursday, March 13, 2025 6pm-10:30pm
Oheka Castle 135 West Gate Drive, Huntington, New York
Thank you for being our sunshine on a cloudy day during this year’s Adina’s Angels Walk! ☀️ Despite the inclement weather, the rain couldn’t stop the smiles and spirit at the event. Your presence and generosity truly made a difference.
The same amount of special As a Sibling Support Specialist at Friends of Karen, my favorite part of the job is working with all the unique and wonderful families to whom we provide support. Though each is unique and special, at the heart of each family is shared love, fierce and strong, for their precious children. How fortunate we are
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