Hauptbild der Spendenaktion

Coach Spence: Fight For Fritz

Spende geschützt
Fritz Spence, Track and Field Coach at Penn State University, is fighting Acute Myelogenous Leukemia for the THIRD time. After bravely defeating the disease twice, Fritz relapsed for the second time in February of 2019. He is currently undergoing treatment to conquer AML once and for all. Fritz Spence meets every challenge and opportunity alike with courage and enthusiasm. We want to reciprocate this passion by showing our love and support to the Spence family during this time. Please join our fight and donate to help the Spence family cover his medical bills and treatment expenses. 

Coaches Story: 
"My battle with AML leukemia has been a unique and challenging one.  In February 2008, at age 35, I was initially diagnosed with the disease after mistaking the symptoms for a severe cold or the flu.  After months of chemotherapy and surgeries, I received a bone marrow transplant in July 2008. My younger brother, Wayde, was my donor.  I got through the transplant fine, and recovering took a little time, but I was back to work much quicker than my doctors had predicted. Even though I made it through ok, it was the most difficult experience I had ever encountered in my life.

Then, almost five years later in July 2013, at age 40, I relapsed.  This time I thought I had simply pulled a hamstring but the pain in my leg became so severe that I ended up going to the emergency room.  I  learned there that my white blood count was off the charts and the doctors insisted I be transported to Hershey Medical Center for additional testing.  It turned out that the AML was back.  Several rounds of chemo ensued and it became the second most difficult experience in my life.  I needed another bone marrow transplant, but I did not have a donor, so my brother again donated cells for me.  Rather than receiving a full transplant this time, I was simply infused with his cells.  The process went beautifully, and I was back to my normal routine in no time.

Flash forward six years to the present and I’ve relapsed again, at age 46.  This time the leukemia was not detectable in lab tests, rather, it had manifested in my right eye.  After months of visits to numerous eye doctors/specialists, a biopsy of my eye in February of this year revealed that the leukemia was back again.  I immediately checked into the hospital and began chemo. It was while I was being treated in Hershey that it was also revealed that the leukemia had also spread to the meninges (the membranes covering the brain) and right kidney.  Over the past several months, I’ve endured several rounds of chemo, radiation, and special chemo treatments directly into the ventricles of my brain.  I am relieved and excited to report that as of today there is no indication of any active leukemia in my bone marrow or organs!

In order to remain in remission and potentially be cured, I have two treatment options that I am pursuing.  The first is a drug called IDHIFA.  It is a targeted therapy that acts as an inhibitor to a chromosomal mutation that is unique to me.  This drug costs over $26,000 a month! That’s almost $900 per pill! I consider myself blessed beyond measure that my health insurance company has approved coverage of this drug for me.   The second form of treatment is another bone marrow transplant.  So far, four potential donors have not worked out, however, my transplant team in Hershey continues to work on identifying a suitable donor and I have complete faith that I will soon be checking into the hospital to finish what has been the third most difficult time in my life." -- Fritz Spence, November 2019
Spenden

Spenden 

  • Chi-Chi Aduba
    • $150 
    • 4 yrs
Spenden

Organisator und Spendenbegünstigter

Maddie Holmberg
Organisator
State College, PA
Teri Spence
Spendenbegünstigte

Deine benutzerfreundliche, wirkungsvolle und vertrauenswürdige Website zum Helfen

  • Benutzerfreundlich

    Spende schnell und einfach.

  • Wirkungsvoll

    Unterstütze Menschen und Zwecke, die dir am Herzen liegen.

  • Vertrauenswürdig

    Deine Spende ist durch die  Spendengarantie von GoFundMe geschützt.