Help Ann beat leukemia again

It is with tears in my eyes that I am coming to y’all AGAIN asking for help. On September 20th, I called my sister to see how her check up was going at the cancer center. She told me to hold on because the doctor was coming in the room. She placed me on speaker phone so that I could hear what he had to say. The next voice I heard was his, stating the words “you’re going to need treatment again”. I listened as my sister burst into tears and yelled noooo. I felt so helpless in that moment. It was a feeling that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Just as her life was coming together again, this happens for the 2nd time. She had just celebrated being in remission for a year in May. Her hair had finally grown to a length she was happy with, she had begun college, she was working toward her career goals, and was genuinely acting like HERSELF again.

I cannot help but to feel for her. I mean I can’t even fathom being 20 years old and having to battle cancer for a second time. I hate that she has to have chemo pumped into her body everyday. I hate that she will have to have a bone marrow transplant and risk complications that come along with that. I hate that she has to suffer. I hate that she will lose her hair and have to start over again with the regrowth process. I hate that she has to withdrawal from her college courses because she won’t be at school to take them. I hate that there’s a chance she will never be able to have children. I hate that she has to sit in this hospital and just watch the days go by. I hate that there’s absolutely nothing she can do to change her current situation.

Although I hate all of these things and more, I know that our God is an awesome God. I know that he has a plan for her life. I know that there’s a reason for everything. I know that my sister will fight her best fight and give it all she has for a second time. She is my absolute best friend in this world and I just want her to be healthy again. I am reaching out begging for prayers and for people to join the bone marrow registry to help my sister and others like her in similar situations. In the meantime, we will lean on our faith, prayers, and each other to get through this. As far as what the future holds, we don’t know a ton. We know that tomorrow Ann will have a bone marrow biopsy and that on Monday she will begin chemo. The doctors hope that after a month she will be back in remission. It is at that time, assuming a donor has been found, that they will initiate the bone marrow transplant. The plan after that is not clear yet as it differs person to person. As of now the goal is to get back into remission and find a donor. Hopefully I will be able to be her donor but if not, we will look into the registry.

 As a family, we have decided that my dad will stay with Cheyanne during her treatments so that I can stay in PA school in TX. My aunts and Cheyanne’s boyfriend will be very involved in supporting her as well. My dad will be receiving any donations to cover their expenses while away from home, any medical expenses she accrues while in the hospital, and their bills back at home that don’t go away when they do. We appreciate all the love, prayers, and support. They mean the world to our family and to Ann. I will keep y’all updated as I know more!

-Caitlyn Causey