7488 Mays Road

Duncan , BC                                                                                                                                              V9L6A7    

December 3, 2007

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Catharina Andersen, age 58, is a long time resident of the Cowichan Valley .  On Tuesday, November 28, 2007 Catharina received a heart transplant at St. Paul ’s Hospital in Vancouver .

In 1996 Catharina was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for breast cancer.    The chemotherapy treatment that she received at that time caused side effects that damaged her heart.    As a result of this damage a heart transplant was her only option.   Catharina was put on the heart transplant waiting list just one week before she received her new heart. 

Catharina’s recovery is going remarkably well.  She is currently in CCU at St. Paul ’s Hospital and is expected to be discharged from hospital just prior to Christmas.  She must remain in Vancouver for approximately three to six months following her discharge and attend a day care program at the hospital during that time.   She must have a caregiver with her at all times while she is living in Vancouver and she must live within commuting distance of St. Paul ’s Hospital.   An aunt will be Catharina’s caregiver in Vancouver .   Her family have been able to secure a furnished condominium, at a cost of $1,500 per month, approximately six blocks from St. Paul ’s.   A Handy Dart bus will transport her back and forth to the hospital.

Catharina is a single woman.  She has two adult children, both with young families.  Her son lives locally.  Her daughter is married and lives in the U.S.     Catharina was very active in our community for 32 years and is associated with the Cowichan Musical Society, Les Broadway has known her for 15 years and says she is a valued soprano.  She also was on the board and acted for the Mercury Players and was a nun in the Sound of Music at the Chemainus Theatre, also helping in the costume department.  Since 2005 Tina, as she is known, was a member of the Cowichan Valley Dragon Divas and although she was unable to paddle, she tried drumming and when her health allowed she attended events with the Divas.  Catharina worked as a Student Support Worker within School District #79 for 20 years and she is now living on a disability pension.   

Catharina is in need of financial assistance to help cover her living and extraordinary medical expenses while in Vancouver .    It is expected that she will also incur additional expenses once she is able to return to her home in Duncan as she will need to travel to Vancouver often for medical purposes.

A trust fund has been set up at the Duncan Branch of Island Savings Credit Union to assist Catharina.   The account number is 1938679.

Any financial assistant you could provide to help with Catharina’s extraordinary living /medical expenses would be most grateful.

Yours truly  

Judith West                    Carla Davies  

December 11, 2007

An update......Tina has been released from the hospital to Heart

House. If anyone would like to write to her the address is:

It would be really uplifting for her to hear from her friends back home.

She will have to stay in Vancouver for at least 3 or 4 months.  

Link to Cowichan News Leader page on

/jbw