Karen Burda

This Caring Bridge site will be updated regularly when new information is available by Karen's daughters, Cindy Phillips and Kim Burda.  We are using this platform to keep Mom's loved ones and real estate colleagues informed about her battle with stage 4 colon cancer.  

Thank you for the outpouring of love and support we have received from all of you, but I'm sure you understand that we are unable to respond to the huge volume of inquiries we are receiving.  For now, our focus needs to be on Mom's care and Mom's attention needs to be on her health challenges ahead. 

Further inquiries can be routed through the Caring Bridge site.  Thank you for your understanding.

On January 18th Mom was admitted to ER at the Mayo Clinic.  She was having severe abdominal pain and dizziness.  Karen was subsequently admitted to the hospital for further tests.  After an array of scans and X-rays, doctor's detected a mass in her colon.  A biopsy confirmed our worst fears, the mass was stage 4 colon cancer that has metastasized to a large portion of her liver, lymph nodes and her abdominal lining and lungs.  

On January 21st she was transferred  to Advanced Healthcare in Mesa for observation of her blood pressure, physical therapy and cognitive testing.  

On January 29th Mayo Cancer Center's Oncology team recommended that Mom begin hospice care.  The Mayo's team of oncologists determined that due to the location of the cancer, on the right side of her colon, and the aggressive progress of the cancer in the liver, treatment would severely impact Mom's quality of life going forward.

On February 4th Karen will be released from Advanced Healthcare and will return home.  We respectfully ask that you don't contact Mom at this time, she is still extremely fragile and needs rest for the challenges ahead. Many people have enquired about seeing Mom, and that is easier then the phone sometime. Please contact us through this Caring Bridge site and we will accommodate setting up visits.  Also, many of you know Kim from all the years she has worked with Karen. Feel free to email or text Kim about seeing Karen.  We are hoping to spread love on her.

On February 11th we had a second opinion which concurred with the recommendation from Mayo Clinic on January 29th.  There will be no treatment as it would severely impact Mom's quality of life going forward.  We are at peace with this and what lies ahead is up to God.

Please visit our guest book under "well wishes",  and leave a message for Karen.  It really does help lift her spirits to hear from all of you.  Most importantly, please keep our mother in your prayers.  As long as there is life, there is hope as each new day is a precious gift.