Helping A Friend With Leukemia
Donation protected
My closest friend and roommate of many, many years, Kat Matthews, had her world turned upside down in a matter of minutes and in turn, my life has done many flips throughout this time period.
Kat had not been feeling well lately and was getting very tired. Due to her last bout of cancer and the fact that she was having some of the same symptoms, she was persuaded to contact her doctor and ask for some tests. On Sept 29, 2017, Kat had her blood work done and within a couple of hours was contacted and told to return on the 6th for more testing. Blood work was done on the 6th and that night she was told to go to the ER and be admitted to the hospital because her immune system was compromised. After many more tests over the weekend Kat was released on Sunday and told to return on Wednesday for a bone marrow biopsy.
The bone marrow biopsy was conducted on Wednesday morning, and on Thursday, Oct 12, 2017, she received a call from the oncologist and was told that she has Leukemia (APL) and an oncologist from Kaiser Roseville would be contacting her with further instructions.
Not long after hanging up the phone and standing there in total shock, the oncologist from Roseville called and said Kat would have to get up there before 5pm to begin chemotherapy. He told her she would be staying in the hospital for a month and should plan on being off of work for at least the next 8 months. I drove Kat to Kaiser, Roseville where she was admitted, met with the Oncologist and began chemo immediately.
The following Thursday Kat began a treatment plan which included Chemo and daily doses of Aresnic. The duration of her treatments is expected to go through July 2018, and per her doctors she will not be allowed to work that entire time because of her compromised immune system.
The light at the end of the tunnel for Kat is that Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) has a 90% success rate for remission. Due to the duration of her absence from work and the amount of travel and medical expenses that have already occurred and she will continue to incur, we are asking for some financial support. We know this is going to be a long road, but we are trying to stay positive and we know with the help and support from friends and family we will make it through this trying time.
Kat had not been feeling well lately and was getting very tired. Due to her last bout of cancer and the fact that she was having some of the same symptoms, she was persuaded to contact her doctor and ask for some tests. On Sept 29, 2017, Kat had her blood work done and within a couple of hours was contacted and told to return on the 6th for more testing. Blood work was done on the 6th and that night she was told to go to the ER and be admitted to the hospital because her immune system was compromised. After many more tests over the weekend Kat was released on Sunday and told to return on Wednesday for a bone marrow biopsy.
The bone marrow biopsy was conducted on Wednesday morning, and on Thursday, Oct 12, 2017, she received a call from the oncologist and was told that she has Leukemia (APL) and an oncologist from Kaiser Roseville would be contacting her with further instructions.
Not long after hanging up the phone and standing there in total shock, the oncologist from Roseville called and said Kat would have to get up there before 5pm to begin chemotherapy. He told her she would be staying in the hospital for a month and should plan on being off of work for at least the next 8 months. I drove Kat to Kaiser, Roseville where she was admitted, met with the Oncologist and began chemo immediately.
The following Thursday Kat began a treatment plan which included Chemo and daily doses of Aresnic. The duration of her treatments is expected to go through July 2018, and per her doctors she will not be allowed to work that entire time because of her compromised immune system.
The light at the end of the tunnel for Kat is that Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) has a 90% success rate for remission. Due to the duration of her absence from work and the amount of travel and medical expenses that have already occurred and she will continue to incur, we are asking for some financial support. We know this is going to be a long road, but we are trying to stay positive and we know with the help and support from friends and family we will make it through this trying time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jane Randall
Organizer
Oakdale, CA
Kathleen Matthews
Beneficiary
