Special Needs Families Hold Bake Sale to Help Ailing Friend Pay Mortgage

OAK LAWN, IL -- A close-knit group of special needs families is coming together to help one of their own who is in the fight of her life against breast cancer.

Karen Tabascio is a single mom from Oak Lawn who has lost all her income after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Since her diagnosis, Karen has endured a double mastectomy, 17 chemotherapy treatments, and just finished her 33rd round of radiation. Her son 21-year-old son Anthony has cerebral palsy and requires 24-hour care. Her battle with cancer has taken away her ability to work and support her family.

“We know Karen would be and has been there for us when the tables were turned,” said Mikey Curtis, a close friend. “She needs another surgery and is hoping to eventually undergo reconstructive surgery. The radiation has affected use of her arms going down to her legs and she has lost her toenails.”

Karen’s daughter Gina, 22, is in her sixth year of remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Gina has been contributing financially as best she can, paying utility bills and scraping money together to pay the mortgage.

“Karen was there for her daughter, so Gina has turned around to be there for her mother,” Curtis said.

Curtiss’s son Scott is Anthony’s best friend. The moms met in support group for families with special needs children. This Sunday, April 22, the families are holding a “Karin’ for Karen” bake sale at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 10301 S. Kolmar Ave., Oak Lawn. The bake sale runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds raised from the sale will be used to help pay Karen’s mortgage.

The support group of special needs families is also looking for donations of baked goods to sell at the bake sale. If you’re in a baking mood, cakes, pies, cookies and other sweets can be dropped off at St. Nick’s starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 23.

Curtis says donated baked goods can also be dropped off at her home in Oak Lawn the dat before on Saturday, April 22, anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Text or call her at 708-606-0802 to let her know you’ll be stopping by and she can give you directions to her house in Oak Lawn.

“Or we will come by and pick up your baked goods,” Curtiss said. “This is our third bake sale. The mortgage is every month.”

The families have also set up a GoFundMe campaign for their dear friend, to help out with daily living expenses at Karen’s Karing Korner.