This past Sunday, we knew something wasn’t right and we pushed my mom to go to the emergency room. She was given a blood transfusion and sent on her way.

Just as we did in 2011, we followed our gut and kept pushing, got a second opinion, and had her admitted to the hospital Wednesday based solely upon how poor her blood counts were and her total loss of appetite.

It is with the heaviest heart and utmost shock to say my mom was diagnosed with leukemia on Friday, April 27. We are currently unaware of the stage or type.

Our heads are spinning, our hearts are broken, our nightmares have become a reality once more. We are paralyzed.

As I’m sure many of you remember, in 2011 my mother was given a stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis that completely knocked us off our feet and changed our lives forever. She defied the odds and kicked its ass with the help of the amazing team at MD Anderson.

7 years ago, so many of you humbled our hearts and deeply moved us with your contributions and support, helping my mom and our family through her battle with lymphoma. That was a time before gofundme and it’s amazing ability to reach so many people we couldn’t before. That was also a time when health insurance wasn’t the train wreck it is today. Everything is infinitely more complicated this time around.

The bottom line is we are getting her the best healthcare available, period, regardless of the cost. The unfortunate thing is, there is a cost and it is the last thing I want my family focusing on in this completely devastating and debilitating time.

I will be asking once more for the financial support of those who are able to contribute, and support in terms sharing her story from those who cannot. Donations will be used to cover medical and travel expenses as we go back and forth from MD Anderson, as well as easing the financial burden as we all take unexpected time off work.

We are completely crushed, but remain hopeful. We have faith that she will pull through and fight this thing with everything she has.Updates will be given here as we find out more information.

Thank you all.

-Ali