Melanie Needs A Transplant
Donation protected
My mom has battled Leukemia for over 5 years. The University of Kansas Bone Marrow Transplant Center has treated her with various types of oral chemo targeting her type of leukemia (CML). Side effects from her treatments were severe. Quality of life for my mom has been almost nonexistent. None of the various oral chemo treatments proved to be successful in treating/controlling her CML. A bone marrow transplant is now her only realistic option. KU Med recommended a visit to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas as they are known worldwide as one of the leading experts in treating CML. Her transplant is scheduled for late May at MD Anderson. The transplant is a five month ordeal, including three weeks of massive chemotherapy treatment to completely kill her immune system, thirty days of isolation in the hospital after receiving the bone marrow transplant and over three months of outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment requires my mom to live in Houston to be near her doctors and the hospital.
My dad will have to maintain his current employment in Kansas City to insure health insurance coverage. He plans on spending the first three weeks of the treatment with my mom in Houston. Unfortunately, this will be unpaid time off. He will then commute between Kansas City and Houston as much as possible. During her post transplant outpatient treatment she will require a caregiver to be with her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
My mom and dad will soon face the challenges of incurring living expenses in Houston for at least five months (for Mom and her caregiver), while also maintaining their current residence in Kansas City. The transplant will cost $1.1 million. The copay is expected to be in the range of $40,000-$80,000 after insurance settles its portion.
Quite frankly, the financial demands to support Mom through her transplant far exceed their resources. Without the support of our friends and family it will be difficult for them to withstand this burden.
If the transplant is successful Mom will be completely cured of her leukemia. The survival rate and all possible complications of the transplant are very concerning. Unfortunately, even though her brothers were very willing to donate, it was discovered they were not a match. Thankfully, a match was discovered through the bone marrow registry. She remains optimistic and confident that she will win this battle with Leukemia.
Our family asks for your thoughts, prayers and any financial help you may be comfortable in providing. Thank you in advance for your support.
My dad will have to maintain his current employment in Kansas City to insure health insurance coverage. He plans on spending the first three weeks of the treatment with my mom in Houston. Unfortunately, this will be unpaid time off. He will then commute between Kansas City and Houston as much as possible. During her post transplant outpatient treatment she will require a caregiver to be with her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
My mom and dad will soon face the challenges of incurring living expenses in Houston for at least five months (for Mom and her caregiver), while also maintaining their current residence in Kansas City. The transplant will cost $1.1 million. The copay is expected to be in the range of $40,000-$80,000 after insurance settles its portion.
Quite frankly, the financial demands to support Mom through her transplant far exceed their resources. Without the support of our friends and family it will be difficult for them to withstand this burden.
If the transplant is successful Mom will be completely cured of her leukemia. The survival rate and all possible complications of the transplant are very concerning. Unfortunately, even though her brothers were very willing to donate, it was discovered they were not a match. Thankfully, a match was discovered through the bone marrow registry. She remains optimistic and confident that she will win this battle with Leukemia.
Our family asks for your thoughts, prayers and any financial help you may be comfortable in providing. Thank you in advance for your support.
Organizer
Matt Mckinnis
Organizer
Overland Park, KS