On November 4, 2021 MaryAnn was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) and started cancer treatment at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD. On 11/9/21 Mary-Ann was intubated (under sedation) to help her body to deal with the treatment for a week. When the Dr’s tried to bring her out of sedation, she started to experience brain seizures and was given anti-seizure medication. MaryAnn continued to be intubated into December while receiving dialysis for acute kidney failure to assist her body to continue to heal and recover. Last December MaryAnn’s intubation was removed and given a tracheostomy for next steps for her to eventually breathe on her own. We got our Christmas miracle as MaryAnn started to move her body and speak a little!! Her trach was capped in order for her to be transferred to Select Medical Hospital in Sioux Falls on December 28th for continual recovery. At Select she relearned to walk and the basics of self-care in order to be transferred to Avera McKennan Inpatient Rehabilitation on January 27, 2022 where MaryAnn received intense physical therapy in order to be released on Friday, February 11th!!

MaryAnn has no memory of November and December at all and has been through so much in 3 months. She is now recovering at home in Brookings, SD where she is receiving in-home physical therapy to assist with nerve damage in her feet. MaryAnn will be taking chemo medication every two weeks for 6 months and will not be able to drive during this time due to past seizures. She has been unable to work her full-time job at Brooking’s Medical Clinic and part-time job at Lewis since October 2021 due to her illness.

MaryAnn is a mother of two, Dylan and Laryssa Kapfenstein and has two grandchildren. MaryAnn and her family are very grateful for everyone’s thoughts, continued prayers and support. Let’s help MaryAnn fight her Leukemia, to regain her strength and independence in getting back to her position at Brookings Medical clinic, love of gardening and best of all keeping up with her grandchildren Renly & Isla!

Any size donation will assist MaryAnn’s loss of income and chemo medication that is not covered by insurance. Please mail monetary donations to Great Western Bank, 1302 6th St, Brookings, SD 57006 (605.692.7100), or use Venmo QR below to make a donation @MaryAnn-Kapfenstein

Any questions, please contact Karen Jacoby 651.276.5934