Dear Friends and Community,

I am coming to you with a heavy heart to ask your  support for our friend and colleague Joanne Aarstol, a wonderful person who has dedicated much of her life to fighting for important causes. Unfortunately, she has faced a string of serious health challenges recently that have left her in a difficult situation and she needs our help.

In February, Joanne suffered a severe fracture of the humerus of her dominant arm, which has formed a non-union and not healed, after 12 weeks- complicated by severe anemia and underlaying health stressors.
The orthopedic team is assisting her with trying to get strong enough, mentally and physically, for the surgery which would not be able to undergo at the moment and was hoping to avoid (due to additional recovery and stress).

Joanne is looking at having to function with an unhealed humerus until something works - which is painful and exhausting - she has been trying to continue working and volunteering and taking care of her dog all with one arm and pain and fatigue - and overdid it and ended up in the ER terribly ill - and that is where they uncovered the anemia. The doctors wanted to check her into the hospital for blood transfusions right away-but that would mean further loss of income and expense and she has not gotten the care she needs, although she has gotten placed on high protein, high iron diet, iron supplemention and other supportive therapist to avoid. blood transfusions. 

Many of you know she has successfully managed multiple sclerosis for 25 years and she knows how to get through these challenges - butit turns out it has been the invisible culprit in causing anemic and osteo-skeletal  problems. 

We are raising funds to help her offset some of the financial pressure that has mounted - medical costs, and 

 

All of you who know her know that Joanne is an incredibly hard  and devoted worker, she needs to be told to slow down - and never mind ask for help -  but this particular mix of random health challenges have created a physical, emotional and financial strain.  She has stretched her financial means and credit and now has finally accepted offers of help. 

 

Whatever funds we raise will go to covering any outstanding bills and medical support, and as appropriate flights to get to her family. It is eye-opening to see the challenges of having someone’s entire family on a different continent, something that has been her reality her whole adult life.

Your generosity can make a huge difference in her journey to healing and recovery. Any contribution, big or small, will be humbly and gratefully appreciated.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

*** I have had numerous people reach out individually about anonymity - Joanne worked with many people in the public eye over her career. It has been touching and heart-warming that some of these individuals have offered significant support without wanting to claim the recognition or take attention away from the situation. We THANK THEM  and YOU ALL deeply. To honor any further hesitation, I have turned off the public view of contributions and amounts - but will gladly share and tag individual donors who let me know that it's OK. Mahalo and God Bless!