The Atkins Family Fund

In May of 2013, my husband Michael was diagnosed with AML leukemia with 90% of his body covered. It was totally a world changer for us with me being 6 months pregnant and 4 year old at home. Working full time to cover bills due to Michael being in hospital. It was a blessing that my brother in law could stay with Michael. After three rounds of chemo between Gibbs Center in Spartanburg and Wake Forest NC, he was in remission August 2013. No bone marrow transplant was done due to good side of genetics. We learned a lot that year with trusting God to heal my husband, provide financially, and building faith in me to surround to Him. With monthly doctor visits to the cancer center getting his blood tested to see where his levels are. In April 2014, doctors found out that the leukemia has returned. This time he was about 20% covered. So on April 9, my husband was admitted back in the hospital for chemo treatments. After the first round of treatments, he had a little over 5% left in his system. During round 2 of treatments, he was having abdomen pain and a lot of fevers. After CT scan, doctors found an abscess on the bottom of his pelvis. Due to the location of the abscess they were not able to drain it with needle or do surgery because white counts haven't started reproducing. As the abscess was growing the infection was getting worse, blood pressure dropping, elevated heart rate, it started affecting right kidney and lungs. We had to make a decision and get the surgeons on board. Thanks to Michaels cancer doctor, the ball got rolling for surgery. May 16, Michael had surgery on abscess to get it removed. After removal of abscess, the fevers broke and he hasn't had one since. He now currently has colostomy bag at his small intestine until white counts come up and nutrition is restored. As of today Michael is still battling with low blood pressure, low appetite, battling sensitivity and pain where surgery was done, retaining fluid. Doctors are going to do ct scan on where surgery was done and test on intestines to make sure bacteria or infection has set in. His white count is slowly coming up. Hemoglobin and platelets are still fluctuating. He is getting moved back and forth to CCU due to low blood pressure ranging 60/37. He has a long road to recovery but God is in control and is with us every step of the way. Having to still work full time with flexibility from my job to work from hospital some throughout the week along with having to be at home with now 5 year old and 9 month old. My trust and strength is in God to provide in all areas where my family needs it the most.