Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA until her pre-teen years in Cherry Hill, NJ. Karen paints a timid self-portrait, likened to a caterpillar metamorphosing through life with butterfly wings. Filled with fear, she opens her soul to reveal past childhood memories. Altered only by her hopeful heart, she learned to be resilient and a survivor of an eighteen-year struggle and a 10-hour surgical miracle that led her to author this book, based on the untold true story, a one-of-a-kind medical mystery. The poignant memories of her life awakened many questions of the author's childhood identity and who she might have been without the disability that defines her. Writing reflectively and reliving the past has given her closure in the process of healing the child within, allowing her to discover a meaningful purpose and a legacy for her family. Oddly, Karen pursued a career in medicine. As a graduate of Monmouth University, she earned a BS in Biology and Art and continued her medical education at Thomas Jefferson Medical College gaining further ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathology) certification as a Cytotechnologist. She has worked in clinical settings in both hospitals and healthcare for more than thirty years. Her first career as a Cytotechnologist director was devoted to learning disease processes— assisting the Pathologists with autopsies and biopsies, and microscopically diagnosing cellular changes related to cancer. Fifteen years later, she began to explore the impact of healing through art to compliment the medical model. She strongly supported a holistic approach with Alzheimer's patients in assisted living facilities. As Director of Therapeutic Activities for the next 15 years, she recognized in herself a profound sense of validation and the need to make a meaningful difference to enhance quality of life for Alzheimer's patients.
Throughout both careers Karen dabbled in art therapies and creative aging programs, taught art enrichment from first through fifth grades and later in life established one of the first Paint & Sip (painting party) companies in NJ (2013). It began as a small entrepreneurial opportunity teaching step-by-step painting techniques—never in an art studio, instead Vino & Palette became a traveling business in bistros, bars and restaurants throughout Mercer County over the course of ten years (initially to support charity funding).
Karen currently resides in Hamilton, NJ enjoying life with family, cherished friends and her cat. Karen can be reached at kareno.author@gmail.com. Comments, book reviews, and inquiries welcome.
