This page is for a little girl named Karen. I am sad to say I never had the opportunity to meet her. Karen had NF. She was 10 years old when she passed away due to complications from NF. Karen had bilateral optic gliomas. Karen left behind her parents Stan & Linda, an older brother Adam, her grandparents, many extended family members and friends. I met Karen's Mom Linda at a NF fundraiser soon after Karen passed away. I liked Linda right away. I sat  there listening to this woman talk about her own NF and her daughter. I was thinking, this woman is incredible. She is so strong, so full of emotion.  Not long after meeting Linda, I was at a church function with the teen class. The adults were paired up with a teen and we had to talk about the 1 person we admired most. Linda was the first person to pop into my mind. I told this group of teens about Karen, about Linda and about me.  She has a heart of gold. Linda, this page is not only for Karen, it is also for you and your family.

Karen loved to sing and dance. Despite her physical disabilities, she took aerobic dance classes with children who had no disabilities. She was admired by others because of her determination and self confidence.  She played both indoor and outdoor soccer. She also played basketball in a "handicapable" league. She played Challenger Baseball as well. Her favorite color was red, and her favorite song was "A Whole New World." It was sung at her funeral. It just seemed so fitting. She loved the Backstreet Boys, The Spice Girls, Bryan Adams and Richard Marx. Her best friends were Stephanie, Gina and Brian. Brian is not only her best friend but is her cousin as well. I've been told they were partners in crime. :-) Another cousin of Karen's is Mike. He says that Karen absolutley loved Winnie the Pooh. Her favorite movie was "The Santa Clause." Her babysitter still knows all the dialogue from watching it again and again with Karen. Karen would go to the NJ Chapter NF meetings with her Mom. She had a way of making everyone smile. Her Mom says that the main reason Karen went to the meetings was for some of Donna's chocolate chip cookies. I have to say that the cookies are definatly a highpoint of the meetings I go to as well. Donna says "Karen's perseverance was unbelievable. She never let anything stop her. The way she behaved, you would think she was much older than 10."