×

Benefit to help Moose Lodge member set

By Journal Staff

MUNISING — Munising Moose Lodge #1386 is throwing a spaghetti dinner for one of their own, Carmen Kee, to support her ongoing medical related expenses during her recovery from open heart surgery.

The dinner will be held on from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Moose Lodge in Munising. MI. The fundraiser will also include a bake sale, silent auction, raffle and 50/50.

Carmen Kee is a fifth generation Munising, Michigan resident. She is also a third generation Moose Lodge Member. Carmen’s great great grandparents Alice Winfred Barbaur and John F. Ryan married in Munising on September 11, 1911 and raised their family here. 111 years later, Carmen epitomizes the spirit of community giving.

Carmen has baked hundreds of cakes over her lifetime in support of the Alger Community. She regularly contributes cakes to the Kiwanis Club of Alger County, Delta Animal Shelter and Sacred Heart Church, supporting fundraisers. She is also a member of Wetmore Community Club and Moose Lodge #1386, where she volunteers her time.

“Carmen has always been the go to person when help is needed. Even though she may be busy with her family or work she will be there for you, Carmen will give you all the help a person can give,” said Al Weymouth, Moose Lodge Representative.

Carmen fosters dogs and has done so for many years. She works with Delta Animal Shelter and actively rallies friends and family to foster as well. Her sister Shannon was born with cerebral palsy, Carmen is her primary caregiver. Carmen took over her sister’s care and became her caregiver after returning to Munising in 2001 with her son, Marcus, from Corona, California. She lived in Corona for thirteen years working as a special education aid.

Last winter Kee began to feel unwell. She was retaining fluid and after multiple tests her doctors could not figure out why. At the end of January she had an echocardiogram in Marquette, MI and was diagnosed with a bicuspid valve. Which is a congenital birth defect versus the traditional tricuspid valve that most people have and is often not diagnosed until later in life.

“I wasn’t having the traditional symptoms. I wasn’t having a rapid heartbeat. I wasn’t having any chest pain. I was just tired and retaining water,” said Carmen Kee. “After my echocardiogram, I was told they were sending me straight to the ER, because my heart rate was too high. After five days in the hospital, they determined that I had to have my aortic valve replaced.”

At the end of September, Carmen had open heart surgery in Petoskey at Michigan Heart and Vascular Specialists. As a result of not being able to do Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a procedure to treat aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, that blocks the flow of blood to your body and forces your heart to work harder, Carmen spent four days in the hospital. The doctors said that it will take six weeks for her breast bone to heal, and another three to four months to get back to normal activity. Additionally, she will travel back and forth from Munising to Manistique, MI three times a week over the course of three to four months for cardiac rehabilitation therapy.

“I’ve had the honor of being a Moose Lodge member for about three years. I joined the Moose because I enjoy volunteering and giving back. It’s a family fraternity where everyone comes together to support our community,” said Carmen. “We also support the Moose Heart for kids and the Moosehaven for the elderly. With the Moose Lodge you know that your money is going to a good place. I am beyond grateful to our amazing community. Everyone has been so very supportive of our family.”

The Moose Lodge fundraiser will help with Carmen’s travel expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation and everything that comes with putting your life on hold for months on end while healing from open heart surgery.

Patrons can take out, dine in or call for delivery (906) 387-2879. Meals are $10 each. Bake Sale items are sold by donation. 0/50 and Raffle items are $1 or $5 depending on the item.

Visit Facebook.com/MunisingMooseLodge for more details.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today