Bone marrow transplant for Paula

After many months of not feeling well, Paula, our mom was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). She has now completed 5 rounds of chemotherapy and it is time to take our fight against cancer to a new level. MDS is a form of blood cancer. Healthy bone marrow contains a bunch of blood-forming cells. A small fraction of these are stem cells, which are needed to create new blood cells. In MDS patients, these cells in the bone marrow are abnormal and therefore are unable to create new blood cells causing Paula’s immunity levels to drop daily. One of the scariest parts about MDS is that roughly 1/3 of patients develop Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) within 18 months of their diagnosis. Unfortunately, the only cure for her is a stem cell transplant.

The good news is, we have found a 12/12 match donor from the UK. Paula will under-go the bone marrow transplant on December 21st in Seattle.  She is being checked into the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on November 27th and she will remain at the SCCA until space opens at the Pete Gross house in Seattle.  Both facilities are considered “sterile living” facilities. During this time, she will receive four different Chemotherapy medications, each being stronger than the last, including a total body radiation prior to her transplant. She will be required to spend up to three months at the Pete Gross house recovering from the transplant and building a new immune system. Our mom will be away from her home and extended family until the end of March 2019.

While she is fortunate to have medical insurance, her insurance does not cover the full costs of the 4.5 month stay at the SCCA or the Pete Gross house. Her insurance out of pocket max will start over again in January, shortly after her transplant. Her husband Brian, who is the sole financial supporter for her, will need to take excessive time off from work to emotionally support her and help participate in her around the clock care schedule. She is required to have a caretaker onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is also not covered by her insurance. 

Your generous contribution, big or small, will make the world of difference to her and her family and will help alleviate those recovery related expenses, pay exorbitant medical bills, co-pays, housing, supplies for her immune suppressant diet and other costs.  We love her very much and thank you so much for taking the time to read her story. Our mom is amazing, we are so fortunate to have her as a mother, Grandma and friend. Please feel free to share this post to help spread the word. All prayers and well wishes are welcomed during this difficult time.

Krista, Jamie and Jennifer