Help for Rachel with her fight for life
Donation protected
As many of you know our beautiful daughter, Rachel was diagnosed on 8/20 with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare form of bone marrow cancer, that usually affects people over the age of 50, not a young woman a month before her 24th birthday. Her treatment is even more difficult because they do not have very much research on this cancer in her age group. Her exact form is MDS-EB type 1 Del3Q, which basically means she has a higher risk form which has started deleting her 3rd chromosome and is very difficult to treat. The only cure is a bone marrow transplant, and family members are excluded as donors because they believe it maybe genetic. Without the transplant she will not be with us in the next 5 years. Those 5 years will be spent in and out of the hospital with chemo and transfusions.
She has been fighting hard to keep her head up and spirits high but it is getting harder. Since she has very little blood without transfusions and with the side effects of the chemo she has a hard time keeping anything down, no energy and can’t walk far without getting out to breath. She needs blood and platelet transfusions at least once a week, lately it has been twice a week. She is currently on round four of her chemo treatments and so far it does seem to be working, we are now able to start the long process for her bone marrow transplant. Before she can get the transplant she will need to finish at least another 4 rounds of chemo, and have another bone marrow biopsy. Let me just say as a mother it is extremely hard to feel so helpless when your child is need of so much and there is absolutely nothing you can do for her. I am not even able to offer the slightest comfort such as a hug, or a small kiss in fear of giving her something as simple as a cold which could at the very least put her back in the hospital. She is also alone during her appointments and treatments due to hospital policy.
I have been struggling with the decision to ask for help on her behalf but the costs of the much needed transplant, even with insurance, is going to be a few thousand dollars out of pocket, in addition to the current medical bills she is incurring. Since she has no immune system she is not able to work and is currently waiting on her social security disability to get approved as her source of income.
I understand that this year has been difficult for everyone and want to thank you all for your prayers and support already given to our baby girl who is loved by so many. All money raised will go towards medical bills and medications
Thank you in advance for any financial support you can provide.
She has been fighting hard to keep her head up and spirits high but it is getting harder. Since she has very little blood without transfusions and with the side effects of the chemo she has a hard time keeping anything down, no energy and can’t walk far without getting out to breath. She needs blood and platelet transfusions at least once a week, lately it has been twice a week. She is currently on round four of her chemo treatments and so far it does seem to be working, we are now able to start the long process for her bone marrow transplant. Before she can get the transplant she will need to finish at least another 4 rounds of chemo, and have another bone marrow biopsy. Let me just say as a mother it is extremely hard to feel so helpless when your child is need of so much and there is absolutely nothing you can do for her. I am not even able to offer the slightest comfort such as a hug, or a small kiss in fear of giving her something as simple as a cold which could at the very least put her back in the hospital. She is also alone during her appointments and treatments due to hospital policy.
I have been struggling with the decision to ask for help on her behalf but the costs of the much needed transplant, even with insurance, is going to be a few thousand dollars out of pocket, in addition to the current medical bills she is incurring. Since she has no immune system she is not able to work and is currently waiting on her social security disability to get approved as her source of income.
I understand that this year has been difficult for everyone and want to thank you all for your prayers and support already given to our baby girl who is loved by so many. All money raised will go towards medical bills and medications
Thank you in advance for any financial support you can provide.
Organizer
Deanna Stites
Organizer
Columbus, OH