The Association for Conductive Education in North America (ACENA) was saddened to hear of Karen's passing. Karen had an affinity for the many children who participated in our programs throughout North America. She kindly gave her time to our research committee in helping us better explore approaches to conductive education. Her passion, keen mind and generosity to share made a difference to our efforts. On behalf of our Board, centers and members, and the hundreds of children whom we serve, we send our sincere condolences. Karen will be missed, and we shall never forget her.

Karen was an angel on this earth…not a quiet one, but one who helped so many people lead a better life. Her commitment, dedication and beliefs transformed many peoples’ lives. She helped me believe that I could help CP and brachial plexus affected people incorporating her philosophy and techniques and ultimately I became a better therapist by incorporating her work. I am honoured that she included me in a piece of her wonderful piece of work that she documented in her book. She did everything her way…always called a spade a spade. That wasn’t a bad thing. It made her patients work harder so they could show her that they could get results…and they did. Karen was always feisty, never accepted a problem as a problem. It could be overcome with a lot of hard work that she emphasized with her patients. Karen never gave in. She fought every step of her final journey, refusing to use sticks or a walker when offered. Her tenacity and beliefs even in her own failing physical condition always were her driving force. She is a person I will never forget. I will always try to be like Karen. At least the name is helpful! I will continue to use her brilliant philosophy and beliefs to make other lives better as she did so well. May others learn from her. She has left an amazing legacy, which will help anyone who is experiencing such neurological problems. They can be conquered as she says clearly in her book, ‘The boy who could run, but not walk’. We will all miss her dearly. May she rest in peace.

A force. A gem. A game changer. Honoured to have known you, Karen.

Thank you Karen!! The passion you had in making kids with neurological compromise meet their maximal potentials was outstanding. Your ability to share your amazing outlook on life, both professionally and personally, was terrific and helped many therapists become better people. I am honored that you saw something in me that I did not know was there and allowed me to gain wisdom from you, to teach with you. On a personal note - thank you for introducing me to many wonderful people in your life- Sarah and Aaron, your dad and Wing (who I miss dearly!) I will smile when I think about you and not be sad. I love you my friend and your legacy will never end in the therapy community.

I have had the honour and the privilege of knowing and working with Karen for over 30 years. She was a mentor, a colleague and a friend who constantly challenged me to be a better therapist, from our days at Sick Kids, at the Magee Clinic and to the present. I am devastated by her loss. Karen's knowledge, her tenacity, her vigor and yet her softer side of caring and sharing, made the world, those she worked with and treated all the better for it. She made me a better person and certainly a better therapist (who was forced to think 'outside the box') and I am truly grateful for doing so. She honoured me by asking me for feedback and input into her book, The Boy Who Could Run but Not Walk, something I will always cherish. Our love of dogs was a shared kinship. Karen's passion, research, need to make the world a better place for challenged children and huge intelligence is an enormous loss. May her memory, drive, compassion and kind heart be an inspiration to her family and those who knew her.

Please accept our deepest sympathy. We were very saddened to learn of Dr. Pape’s passing, and appreciate this opportunity to share our thoughts with her family, loved ones, friends and co-workers. Even though it is difficult to find the words at a time like this, hopefully it will help those dearest to Dr. Pape as they journey through this time of loss. Twenty-five years ago our family became acquainted with Dr. Pape through our daughter, Laura’s, occupational therapist. Laura was born with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. We initially began using Dr. Pape’s Stim program. When Laura was four years old, Dr. Pape invited her, myself and our therapist, to travel to Toronto from our home in northwest Iowa, USA. We were all a part of the video that Dr. Pape produced. It shared about the Stim program and featured several children who were currently using it. That whole experience was truly a priceless gift which allowed us to personally meet the amazing woman whose life was centered on helping people like our daughter. We will be forever grateful for that opportunity, and for the life-long dedication of this incredible woman who sincerely cared about the precious lives of those who were living with cerebral palsy – even a spunky little girl from a small town in Iowa. I doubt you can imagine the sheer joy we felt when Dr. Pape called to visit with both Laura and myself shortly after her recent book was released! We couldn’t believe this prestigious woman was contacting us! Her pure commitment to helping others was again being reflected in the genuine talks we shared, so many years after our initial contact. She still wanted to know how Laura was doing, she graciously acknowledged the wonderful life Laura is living, and she enthusiastically told us about her latest research. She kindly sent each of us an autographed copy of her book and encouraged Laura to pursue the new avenues she wrote about. We were so deeply humbled by Dr. Pape’s unending determination and passion to “help” and to “serve”. We will forever hold a special place in our hearts for Karen Pape. Her legacy will live on through many grateful recipients of her wisdom and love. With love and prayers, The Denekas Family

We are all so sorry for your massive loss. Karen was so kind, so compassionate, so tough and so resilient. Its a sad loss for you all and the rest of the world. She will be sorely missed.

I remember when Karen reached out to me years ago via LinkedIN. I run the NICU Pros list, Early Intervention Pros list and more and she knew instantly that we needed to talk as she prepared to publish her book "The Boy Who Could Run But Not Walk." We talked by phone and there was an instant connection. I was excited to hear about her background, her work and her book. We worked on ways to help get it out there and we did. At the time I quietly noted to Karen my former 30-week preemie, then 11 years old had always had some issues with running and with walking and that I had always quietly asked doctors if this wasn't more than just low muscle tone and later more than gross motor delays and still later more than just Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder. Little did I know that I would be needing Karen's help when Becky was diagnosed officially at 13.5 years old. My frustration was audible to Karen as we talked by phone that winter. This rebel, this "difficult" person in the field of CP and baby brain science was nothing but straightforward, understanding and respectful as I poured out my rage at the establishment in this field and how people didn't seem to truly get that this was a catastrophic mess in my mind. She helped me understand how things had played out medically and where the mistakes likely happened. She also confirmed and connected the dots with me that my daughter's "slight curvature in the spine" as told me months early by the baffled pediatrician was consistent with the CP. She gave me some ideas of where to start. After 6 months of typical PT, appointments and other interventions that burnt out my daughter and myself, we stopped everything and took account of where we were. And this was only in the first year of diagnosis so I could only imagine what other families before us had done to keep their minds straight and focused. After the new year I contacted Karen again noting that we were definitely struggling with this and wondered if she had other thoughts. We talked, she said it was time to go see Pia Stampe in New York and get a CP Intensive. A short time afterward we spent a long weekend in New York and Pia was truly phenomenal. Becky came away walking better, running better and with a confidence and excitement that floored my husband and myself. She looked at me and said, "Thank you." Yes, my TEENAGER! Prior to leaving Pia that last day, she took a video of Becky and myself to send to Karen who was by now very sick. To hear my daughter speak to Karen with such awe and gratitude was amazing. In a few days she got the theory, she understood what Karen had been trying to teach medical and therapeutic professionals for a long time. And she was living proof that it worked. I finally got to meet Karen a month ago in Toronto. I got to give her a hug, say thank you in person. I also handed her a note . . . from my Becky. It totally moved her. It was then that we discussed the impending foundation. While I know Karen would have loved to see this come together, I know she left this in very, very capable hands. She will be missed but she will always be remembered, always be thanked for being "difficult" for being that rebel. For every infant, child, teen and adult that has received help from her over the years is now her ongoing living legacy alongside her own family. We carry it forward for her. Thank you, Karen. Thank you on behalf of the thousands of families you have helped over the years including mine. With Love & Gratitude, Deb Discenza PreemieWorld

It has meant so much to me to have had Karen in my life and as part of my daughter's team. So much of what we work on and do is thanks to Karen. She educated me and guided me to learn how to assess the therapy we are doing and think about what to work on next and how. Not, only that, but the advice and stories have been so valuable in how I live my life. Karen was such a special person. We love and miss her.

I'm broken. Dr. Pape personally responded to me after having questions about my daughter, then 5 years old, with right sided hemiplegia. I pray her legacy lives on and that she continues to fuel others to continue to research neuroplasticity & many other findings she has sparked. May you rest in peace, Dr. Pape. I pray that your family finds peace in knowing you are in a beautiful place & that your legacy will live on. You are now our angel...well, you've always been.