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May 6, 2009 If Patrick McGeever never gave up, it was because he was inspired by the example of his wife Karen, who was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago. The Long Island-born mother and stepmother to five and grandmother to five died on March 21 in Florida, where she and her husband had settled a decade ago.
There were moments of despair, however.
"The doctor said it was just a matter of days," McGeever recalled. He told his wife, the daughter and granddaughter of New York City police officers, that "she may be going to God." Her eyes filled with tears, he said.
She stayed true to her commitment to a holistic approach to her illness, a decision that was backed fully by her family and friends
"Karen courageously dealt with the odds that were against her," he said. "She stuck to her beliefs in spite of the odds and cynical comments and predictions. She knew there were not any guarantees regardless of treatment choice."
Because her choice of treatment was not covered by health insurance, her husband is left with bills to pay. "I was completely concentrating on Karen's well-being," said Patrick McGeever, who is on leave from his job as a social worker and has postponed his PhD studies.
He would like to set up a foundation in memory of his wife, who was he said a "person of integrity and a trailblazer." The foundation would help others with life-threatening conditions. "I want to get the ball rolling on that," he said.
A fundraiser will be held at Gaelic Park on this coming Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. There will be music and food and people will share their memories of Karen McGeever. Assistance can be offered via PayPal on line at www.KarensHealingJourney.com or by U.S. mail to Karen's Healing Journey, PO Box 630048, Bronx, N.Y. 10463. Raffle tickets are $20 each, 6 for $100. The grand prize is one week In Ireland, including lodging, car rental and $1,000 toward airfare. Second prize is $1,000 and third prize is $500.
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