Samantha’s Cancer Relief

Hello, my sister Samantha has recently been diagnosed MDS-EB2/AML. Due to her age and genetic mutations, her case is very rare and high risk. She was diagnosed and started chemo on June 26th, 2023, and has been in and out of the hospital since June 20th. She has been out of work since the middle of June, and is in need of assistance with medical bills, rent and other household needs. Anything will help.

Samantha is a 32 year old single mother of her 10 year daughter, Alex. There are so many things we are all uncertain about. We don’t know how long her treatment may take. The only possible cure for her cancer is a successful bone marrow transplant. We don’t know how many rounds of chemo she will need, or how long it will take to find a donor match. We don’t know how long it will take to recover, or if the transplant will be successful. We can all only hope for the best.

This diagnosis has changed her life forever. She will have to be monitored and tested for the rest if her life because of her specific risk and the complications that come with even a successful transplant. We have a genetic disorder called FAP; meaning that we WILL get colon cancer if we don't eventually have our colons removed. The transplant process can agrivate and possibly accelerate this disorder, as well as cause new cancers to develop in time. She has long, hard road ahead of her. 

 Samantha has always been a strong, independent woman. She is a fighter. She's always done her best to be there for all of us when we need her. Now it is our turn to help her. After the year she has had, she deserves a break. She lost her step-dad, 2 nephews, her father, and was diagnosed with cancer all in about 6 months time. She had to leave her home and all of her animals to stay with our grandma so she could be closer to Barns Jewish Hospital, where she is receiving her treatment. She feels like she has lost everything she fought to achieve. 

She still owns her home in hopes that she may be able to go back after her recovery. This means that she still has many expenses. 

Expense list: 

1. Home utilities - water/sewer/trash, electric and gas, etc. 

2. Insurance - home, auto, and pet.

3. Gas - to go back and forth to the hospital and other appointments, to travel back and forth to get things from home and check on the house, getting Alex back and forth to her dad on the weekends, and getting her to school and other activities. 

4. Medical care - to cover any expenses the insurance won't covor, and possible necessary lodging during treatment. 

 4. Other - to help pay for lawn care while she is away The funds we raise here can lift just 1of her heavy burdens, and can allow her some much needed relief. 

Regardless of the outcome of her health, she wants to make sure that her daughter is taken care of. Any additional funds will go into a savings account for Alex, just in case things take a turn for the worst.

This has already been a really rough year for our family. We have already had several losses, so we are all incredibly grateful for any assistance you provide for her. Thank you for your time and generosity.

UPDATE:

Hello again everyone. I'm sorry, this update is long over due.

My sister received her stem cell transplant on Novemver 1, 2023. So far, it has been a success. Now she is battling the new health conditions that come along with it, as well as with the continued treatment, medications, and monitoring. She has at least one more bone marrow biopsy to make sure that she is staying in remission, and will continue to be monitored for the rest of her life. She is slowly healing, but is not quite out of the woods yet. And with her particular mutations and complications her risk of relaps is a constant threat. Because of that, we want to make sure that she and her daughter have what they need in case of another emergency.

She has been cleared to return home, but can not physically return to work. She could really use a little extra help to covor extra expenses that come along with returning home. Things like increased utilities, lawn care, extra gas for the further drives to the hospital, some of the medications that she can't get through the insurance, as well as home upkeep and maintenence.

We are hoping to make the transition back home as smooth as possible, and provide her with a safe and peaceful environment to continue her recovery.

The whole family wants to say a huge thank you for your support!