Last year Gloria visited Karla and her school children in Missouri. Zeb, Karla’s lovie, visited the Aqua Roomers. It was wonderful.
Zeb is not only Karla’s lovie, he is the mascot for the rare form of cancer she has. Karla is always the bright light, the giver, the one who sees the good in everyone and everything.
Mitch Teemley just posted an update on Karla. Thank you, Mitch.
Meet My Dear Friend Karla
From left to right: Karla – Sharing with school children – With her beloved dog – “Stay kind and curious!”
Love With a Capital C for Cancer
Meet my dear friend Karla. When she was first diagnosed with stage-4 NETs (Neuroendocrine Tumors), Karla learned that this rare disease was incurable. It was however, treatable. But few clinics were prepared to do so. Then she discovered that the NCI, the government-sponsored National Cancer Institute, was equipped to treat her fully-metastasized cancer.
The NCI has extended Karla’s life-expectancy by several years. Years she’s using to bless untold numbers of others: through her wonderful, life-affirming blog Flannel With Faith, and through her live readings to school children from her memoir (when health allows) about adventuring in the Ozarks with her beloved dog.
Ironically, however, even though the NCI recognizes Karla’s disease as one of the most serious forms of cancer, it is not well-known enough to make Medicaid’s list of fully-covered conditions. Hence, she’s required to pay at least $3800 a month before receiving any additional aid.
As a result, she’s filed a chapter 13 bankruptcy, which will buy her time to pay back her growing medical debts. And, in order to further reduce her cost of living, she’s moving to a small 55+ community.
“I’m not bitter or angry at God or doctors or anyone,” Karla writes, “(but) my family does get angry. My mom cries a lot and is losing her memory, so it’s hard on my family to watch. (Nevertheless), they have grown in their faith, and I have joy in my heart!!”
Karla’s treatments can be extreme, the most recent she’s labelled her “worst nightmare.” Still, with 9 tumors in her skull, 6 in her spine, 5 in her kidneys, and dozens of others throughout her body, these treatments are the key to her surviving another five+ years.
Years Karla will use to bring her irresistable spirit of hope and love to others!
Note: Karla’s sister has created a GoFundMe page to help cover medical costs. I encourage you to visit and follow her blog and, if you feel so led, to consider making a contribution here!
A Teacher's Reflections 
All the best to Kara
Amen!
What a beautiful soul
Yes, indeed.
best to her and her wonderful spirit
Her spirit is so inspiring.
It speaks a lot to Karla’s character that she has remained positive and doesn’t hold a lot of resentment. I pray that she continues to beat the odds.
It does, Pete. She has such faith and strength.
Well done to Karla for making the best use of her remaining time. Inspirational indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, indeed. Very much so.
So sad.
Yes, very much so.
Bless you, Jennie!!
My pleasure, Mitch. Thank YOU!
This is wonderful. My daughter has/had an orphan disease, akin to cancer, so I have some experience with what you’re going through. Checking out the GoFundMe page
It’s so hard, even more when it’s a close fellow blogger. We’re a family. Thanks, Jacqui.
There are people in this world who are wonderful and special – particularly in the face of devastating challenges. Thank you for telling us about one of them, Jennie.
You are so right, Sarah. I find these people inspiring. Many thanks.
Her positivity leaps off the page as Karla shares that she has joy in her heart”, Jennie. Her many challenges are matched through the many friends she has supporting her in different ways. I truly hope she gets all the time she can to continue her journey of spreading joy to others. ❤️
Hear, hear! She is the poster child for kindness, positivity, and understanding. I’m so glad she has many friends that match her many challenges. I dearly wish and hope she has plenty of time ahead, for her, and for her passion of spreading joy to others. She has certainly spread joy to me and my students. Thank you, Melanie.
There are just special people out there, Jennie, and Karla’s one of them. ❤️
Yes, she is! Very much so!
Thanks for sharing this, Jennie. This is so sad. I wish we had better answers for healthcare problems like this. I applaud her spirit and wish her the best.
It’s so sad, Dan. Her faith and spirit is unbelievable. That keeps her going.
I hope Kara is able to contribute with her life-extending treatments!
I hope so too, Liz.
Blessings to Kara. 💜