Thank you for visiting Karianne's CaringBridge website! This is the place where we will share updates about Karianne's health, treatment, and overall wellbeing. We appreciate your support and love for her and Mike!
For quite a number of years, Karianne has experienced a myriad of health problems. She's worked tirelessly to get answers (and didn't find any), manage her symptoms, and advocate for herself while she navigated the complicated healthcare system. In July/August 2016, her symptoms worsened and in late September 2016, Karianne noticed a large lump on her neck. In early December 2016, after many tests and biopsies, Karianne was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma, called Gray Zone Lymphoma. We'll save you the wordy medical jargon, but essentially it's a mixed feature lymphoma that has elements of Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins. Miraculously, the cancer is only present in her neck and chest, which classifies it as Stage 2. Her cancer is extremely fast growing (a proliferation index showed 90 out of 100). One of the oncologists that she saw said that her PET Scan results (showing Stage 2) didn't match her pathology results at all. When that index shows a 90, almost always, doctors would expect to find cancer throughout the body. God has been extremely faithful and protected Karianne in huge ways.
Mike and Karianne have relocated to San Diego so she can be under the care of a specialized oncologist with impressive experience treating Gray Zone lymphoma. The course of treatment will involve 6 rounds of chemotherapy in 21 day cycles. Each treatment will require a 5-day stay in the hospital, followed by 16 days of recovery.
If you would like to be a part of Karianne's journey towards health, there are a few ways that you can support her and Mike. We would love for you to make a commitment to join many others in praying for Karianne and Mike daily. Within their first year of marriage, they are living the true meaning of their covenant to stand by each other in sickness and in health. We know and trust that God has already orchestrated every detail of this journey. He is holding them in the palm of His hand as He provides exactly what they need as they need it. We will post specific prayer requests and victories as they arise.
We have also created a GiveForward page where you can give a financial gift if you feel led! Karianne and Mike have taken a significant financial hit with the loss of both of their salaries. Mike is working part-time as he is able, but his primary job is caring for Karianne and being with her during her chemo treatments. In addition to the inevitable medical bills, your financial gift will help them cover regular life expenses including insurance premiums, groceries, phone bills, gas/auto maintenance, etc. Please note that there is an 8% transaction fee on all donations through GiveForward. If you'd like to send a gift directly to the Johansen's, see the other options below:
GiveForward:
https://pages.giveforward.com/medical/page-nhvvxq4/PayPal: michaelallenjohansen@gmail.com
Venmo: @miggysmallz
Snail mail: 1610 Mirage Ct. El Cajon, CA 92019
Thank you for your overwhelming love and support of the Johansens! We appreciate your interest in her health and will provide updates as often as we can.
