It’s been almost a month since ‘Neos Kosmos’ wrote about 16-year-old Emily Karakatsanis and the extreme health challenges she faces, and the Greek community has rushed to her support. Through three different fundraisers, friends, family and complete strangers have managed to raise $44,500 to fund her trip to the US, where she is hoping to get the treatment she needs.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped our Emily so far, from the bottom of my heart”, her mother, Lauren Karakatsanis, tells Neos Kosmos. “We have put all our hopes to science and this hope is generated by our love for our daughter and the support of all those people who understand what we are going through and assist us in our efforts to cure Emily”.
Diagnosed with two rare diseases, Idiopathic HyperEosinophilic Syndrome together with a myriad of other features, including postural tachycardia, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Bechets Disease, chronic fatigue, vasculitis and fibromyalgia, to name a few, the year 11 Brighton Secondary College student has been going in a out of hospitals for a long time.
So far, her frail immune system rejects any kind of treatment, including chemotherapy; the family has exhausted all options available in Australia and have sought consultation from leading specialists in Europe and the United States. At the moment, several research teams study this rare case at the acclaimed Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Health in Washington, with little progress. Specialists are hopeful that they have come up with a drug and symptoms management plan that could prove to be effective, but this treatment requires for the young woman to spend up to six months in the US. The overall cost is estimatet to be more than $80,000, which puts a lot of stress on the desperate family which is under dire financial strain. This is their last resort; if no treatment works, then Emily is going to die of vital organ failure.
A couple of weeks ago, friendd and family held a fundraising event, ‘My Big Fat Greek High Tea’, supported by ‘Neos Kosmos’ and other community organizations, raising $23.069, while another fundraiser brought in $19.000. Moreover, last week, one of our former colleagues at ‘Neos Kosmos’, Matina Panagiotopoulos, held a party for her 80th birthday celebration. Touched by Emily’s story, she asked friends to donate money for the girl, instead of spending on birthday presents, thus raising $2,500.
Overall, $44,500 have been raised so far, covering for more than half of the treatment expenses, but there is still a long way to go.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution is welcome to donate to:
Account Name: Emily Desiree Boardman Karakatsanis
BSB: 193 879
Account Number: 432263584 Bank of Melbourne
Or go to the webpage: GoFundMe.com/hope4emilymedical