Help Kim Beat Cancer

Hi friends. Earlier this year, I got the shock of my life when doctors told me I had pancytopenia, or very low red & white blood cells and platelets. This diagnosis turned into multiple months of searching, a lot of failed bone marrow biopsies, and to be honest, more stress than I’ve ever experienced. It felt like the rug was ripped out from underneath me - no more teaching, no more Peloton, no more social life.

I was finally diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in May of 2022 at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. MDS & AML are very rare blood/bone marrow cancers that typically affect people in their 70s or older. Because I’m only 37, I have a real chance to fight this and beat it.

I began aggressive chemotherapy in June 2022, followed by consolidation chemo in August. While the chemo did put me into remission, my blood counts did not recover fast enough. My doctor has recommended we move forward with a bone marrow transplant in November. As you might expect, all of this treatment is extremely expensive and not always covered, so Mark and I are grateful for any help you can give.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

- Kim, Mark, Ada, & Theo