More than one month after her daughter Chelsea was air-lifted to BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital for emergency surgery, Kara Kazimer still cannot find the words to express herself.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just been amazing how people have come together for us,害羞草研究所� Kazimer marvelled, referring to the dozens of hot meals, provided by many of the parents of Chelsea害羞草研究所檚 fellow members of Elite Rising Stars team at the Club, and gifts from her son害羞草研究所檚 soccer club, bestowed upon the family over the past month.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e never been in this kind of situation before 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檝e been overwhelmed with all the support.害羞草研究所�

It started, she explained, with a stomach ache on Sept.17.

When it persisted two days later, Kazimer took her daughter to the emergency room where the nine-year-old Vernon girl remained for three days before being air-lifted to the in Vancouver and diagnosed with Hemolytic-uremic syndrome or HUS, a condition caused by what Interior Health later called 害羞草研究所渁 very rare strain害羞草研究所� of E-Coli that resulted in Chelsea害羞草研究所檚 kidneys shutting down.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪he was put on dialysis so they had to do surgery and put a tube in her stomach,害羞草研究所� Kazimer explained. 害羞草研究所淚nitially she was on dialysis for 20 hours a day, but her body responded really fast, and they were able to take it down to half the day on and half the day off. And then she was taken off it completely.害羞草研究所�

In regard to how Chelsea came into contact with E.Coli, Kazimer said doctors have been unable to pinpoint a direct source, but that the team working on her daughter at BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital told her it is fairly common for children to carry E.Coli and not know it.

害羞草研究所淪he could really have picked it up anywhere 害羞草研究所� she could have touched something that somebody else (who carried the bacteria) touched. She could have eaten a cookie and not washed her hands,害羞草研究所� Kazimer noted.害羞草研究所淭here was no restaurant or food we could pick out. We just know her system couldn害羞草研究所檛 battle it.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 never could have imagined there was that much kindness and generosity out there.害羞草研究所� - Kara Kazimer

On Oct. 16, after roughly one month, Chelsea and her father Jason, who remained in Vancouver for the duration of her hospitalization, finally came home.

害羞草研究所淚t was quite a long haul, but everything seems to be going in the right direction now,害羞草研究所� Kazimer said, adding that while Jason had stayed with Chelsea, she had remained in Vernon to work and care for their son, Alex, who just started Grade 8, and travelled to the coast every weekend.

害羞草研究所淲e consider the experience overall to be a positive because of how lucky we are that Chelsea is getting better, and that people were so supportive. I never could have imagined there was that much kindness and generosity out there.害羞草研究所�

According to Camille Martens, Chelsea害羞草研究所檚 instructor at the gymnastics club and the organizer of the , taking care of each other is 害羞草研究所減retty normal.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just what we do,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e all know how it feels to go through a tough time, and we consider ourselves a family害羞草研究所攕o when someone in the family needs a hand, you just pitch in and help where you can.害羞草研究所�

Martens said the concept of a Meal Train害羞草研究所攁n interactive online calendar that helps friends coordinate the giving of food to help ease the burden (whether it be time or cost) of meal preparation, appealed to her because it害羞草研究所檚 a useful and simple way to make a difference in someone害羞草研究所檚 life when they害羞草研究所檙e faced with a challenge.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just been an amazing thing for us,害羞草研究所� Kazimer said of Martens害羞草研究所� effort.

害羞草研究所淲e didn害羞草研究所檛 even know very many people at the gym because we had only been there for a little while so it was amazing how the Rising Stars family came together for us.害羞草研究所�

And the hospitality didn害羞草研究所檛 stop there, Kazimer added.

害羞草研究所淢y son害羞草研究所檚 soccer team gave us a gift basket filled with gift cards for places like M & M Meats ,Home for Dinner, and Papa Nick害羞草研究所檚 (Global Cuisine) and my coworkers (at Okanagan College) purchased a tablet for Chelsea to use while she was in the hospital. And last week we were all invited to see the Whitecaps play in Vancouver. I still can害羞草研究所檛 believe it. We害羞草研究所檙e a soccer family and the Whitecaps are Chelsea害羞草研究所檚 favourite. 害羞草研究所�

As far as Chelsea害羞草研究所檚 health, Kazimer says her little girl is currently back at school, in much better health and in great spirits.

害羞草研究所淚t was a hard month for sure, but we have so many good memories that we will take from this,害羞草研究所� Kazimer said. 害羞草研究所淲hen we look back on this, we will remember more good than bad, and that害羞草研究所檚 because of the community we live in.害羞草研究所�

Erin Christie

Morning Star Staff

erin.christie@vernonmorningstar.com