Kara Marie Chytka

Kara Marie Chytka was born Kara Russo in Hancock, New York on July 3rd 1978 and spent her childhood in various cities in Oregon where she loved to ride her bike with neighborhood friends.

She passed away peacefully on May 21, 2022 in her home in Aumsville, Oregon surrounded by her husband, children and family at age 43 after a 21-year battle with ALS and Lyme Disease. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, wife and friend, and faithful disciple of God.

She first met her husband of nearly 24 years, Chris, when she was 18 and a mutual friend brought Chris to the Burger King where she was working. Two years later, the two would be married on July 10, 1998, at the Union Hill Grange in Sublimity, Ore.

When Kara and Chris met, she was three months pregnant with their oldest child, Brianna Chytka, (25), who always knew Chris as her father. They had two more children, Taylor (22), and Olivia Chytka, (21).

In 2001, Kara became ill and was initially diagnosed with ALS; doctors told her she would only live two to three years, especially devastating because Olivia was just a baby. But Kara didn’t accept that, and with Chris by her side she sought an alternate, more treatable diagnosis. After a year of endless hours of research and unanswered questions she received an alternate diagnosis, Lyme disease.

Over the course of her 21-year battle with illness, Kara fought courageously, not just for herself but on behalf of many others who struggle with undiagnosed Lyme Disease. In 2006 at age 27, she could not walk or talk, yet was still advocating, appearing as the subject of news stories and working towards legislative change at the state level.

By then, Chris had quit his job to become Kara’s full-time caretaker, a job he performed with great love and devotion alongside their children and Chris’s mother DeLetta. In those 17 years, Kara only had to go to the hospital four times.

Despite her physical limitations, Kara was an ever-present parent. She loved teaching her children life skills, helping them with homework, listening to them talk about their struggles and offering words of advice for them, using blink spelling after she became unable to speak. Her children were her greatest joy; nothing brought her more happiness than seeing them grow and achieve, not only academically but as talented, brave and loving people. She fought for her life as long as she could to celebrate milestones with them, most recently the birth of her first grandchild, Declan James Thompson, to Brianna. We wish she could’ve seen so many more.

Kara’s love extended far beyond her immediate family. She loved hosting family and friends for dinner parties and gatherings, always with a smile on her face though she was unable to speak. She especially enjoyed Bible study with her faithful sisters in Christ, Elaine Hanson, Jayne Wilson and Lorna Mott. Kara also enjoyed spending time with her very committed best friend Trina Ward. Trina made Kara feel like she had a friend again after years of loneliness with no girlfriends. Trina met Chris and Kara 5 years ago and fell in love with their story and has a part of the family ever since. Trina spent many hours with Kara helping with her care, doing her hair and nails, and watching many movies and tv shows together. Trina helped Kara feel whole again and was by her side advocating for her until the end.

She is survived by her husband Chris Chytka, children Brianna Chytka (Kevin Thompson),

Taylor Chytka and Olivia Chytka (Ronnie Slone) and grandson, Declan Thompson, her mother-in-law DeLetta Fuller and father-in-law Rick Chytka (Amber Chytka), grandma Bonnie Chytka, and her faithful friend Trina Ward. She is preceded in death by grandpa Delmar Lambrecht, grandpa Lawrence (Bud) Chytka, and friend Elaine Hansen.

Kara’s Celebration of life will be held October 8 ^th 2022, at Union Hill Grange Sublimity Oregon. Time to be determined.