Heartfelt gratitude

Girl battling leukemia thankful for friend’s efforts

The strength, courage and determination demonstrated in her fight against leukemia served as pure inspiration to a former Queen Annapolisa facing her own cancer battle.

Karissa Bezanson, 13, of Lawrencetown is battling Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia. She has to take 249 pills a week in addition to chemotherapy treatments.

Tanya Marie Olscamp of Middleton, a former Queen Annapolisa, recently overcame a battle against aggressive breast cancer. She is organizing a community fundraising benefit for Karissa and her family. It’s Dec. 1 at the Middleton Fire Hall.

Karissa’s fight against leukemia has greatly impacted her quality of life. She misses social activities, playing sports, being with team members and regular school days with friends.

“I sometimes think never knowing how I am going to feel day- to- day is challenging, it’s hard to make plans and breaking them,” said Karissa.

She gets “a little scared” when the pain is bad. Every time she gets sick, it takes her body longer to heal and she often feels tired. When asked how she keeps her spirits up, Karissa credited her mom, nan, sister, papa and Joel. She said her mom, Shannon Hohmann, pushes her to accomplish things when she is having bad days.