Benefit for Meredith Olafson Shows Support

The registered nurse says the hardest adjustment has been staying sedentary after living such an active lifestyle.

MOORHEAD, MN (KVRR) – Meredith Olafson was convinced she just had the flu.

At first, she tried to work through it, but her supervisor sent her home.

The next time she showed up, those superiors at Sanford Medical Center, where she’s a registered nurse, overrode her objections and forced her to get herself checked out.

The test results were devastating: acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The Olafson offspring were just as shocked as their mother.

“She’s the rock of the family,” said Jessica Olafson. “[This] was something we never anticipated.”

But they jumped into action, supporting Meredith in every way possible as she adjusted to life as a patient rather than a provider.

“The hardest thing for me is – I am someone who is constantly busy,” explained Meredith. “Now to be doing nothing is driving me crazy.”

The diagnosis came in February.

Now, at the end of June, the people and businesses of the area turned out in force for a benefit at the American Legion in Moorhead.

The Olafson children say the community response was resounding.

And Meredith credits the people in her life for making a day like this even possible.

“If it hadn’t been for my supervisor pushing the issue, I probably would have kept saying it was just a flu bug,” she said.

If you’d like to donate to help the Olafson family pay for medical care and cover the cost of missed work, the link is here.