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My name is Angela Nicholls and I was blessed to grow up with 3 older sisters. Unfortunately, in 2010 some horrific news was given to our family: My oldest sister Amanda was diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia).
We were all quite stunned with the news, she was only thirty-two, but she bravely went through chemotherapy and thankfully went into remission. Although there were certainly many challenges for Amanda, her strength and courage through the diagnosis and treatment was admirable. She is one of the most selfless and grateful people I know. She was most concerned about putting other people out and inconveniencing others during her treatment. I feel blessed that during that summer she was able to stand with me at my wedding.
Unfortunately two years later, the CLL returned. She again went through chemotherapy treatments and successfully went into remission again. Another two years following her treatment she started to feel sick again, but nothing was showing up on her routine bloodwork. After further testing, they discovered that her CLL had turned, uncommonly, into an aggressive form of lymphoma. She started very harsh chemotherapy immediately in March of this year.
With both types of cancer, a bone marrow transplant is really the only cure. The Ottawa General Hospital and their transplant team started the preparations immediately because of the seriousness of the new diagnosis. We are extremely grateful that the transplant team in Ottawa has found an excellent match; surprisingly not from my sisters, parents or I, but from an unknown donor!
All of this has come up very suddenly and we are all very overwhelmed, to say the least. Her procedure date is set for July 29th, 2016. Additionally there is a week of intensive chemotherapy the week before to prepare her for the transplant. This is an incredibly invasive and complicated procedure that is very hard on our sister, and will also be very demanding for her family caregivers. There is much preparation and risk involved, and requires her to live in Ottawa for at least 3 months (potentially 4 or 5) with around the clock intensive care and daily appointments with the specialists in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit.
These accommodations alone will range from $1500-$2000 monthly. On top of that, she will require 24-7 care and attention, which means our family needs to take on this responsibility. With hopeful hearts we are planning this care as I write this, but we will be taking time off work, as well as much time away from our young families. Other costs include the possibility of hiring nurses for assistance because of the intensity and longevity of this commitment, and high risk of complications. She will also require a large amount of medications and services after the procedure is complete. Of course we will be travelling between Ottawa and North Bay to care for her and be with her.
This is where you come in! Many of you have already asked how you may help, which has been much appreciated: First of all, we are asking for prayers for Amanda, the procedure and her recovery, and for our family. We are reaching out to you, our friends and family and colleaugues, for any financial contributions you are able to donate. We wish we didn't have to reach out for financial help, but the reality is that these costs do create a difficult financial burden on Amanda, as well as all of us in the family, and any help would be greatly appreciated, and for which we would be forever grateful. We are truly appreciative of any help we can get and feel blessed to have such amazing family and friends to support us through this and that Amanda has had so much support and encouragment from her colleagues at the Law Library in North Bay.
Amanda is a caring, loving daughter, sister and aunt to four (soon to be five) nieces and she means the world to us! Her grace and perseverance through all of this has been something to be admired. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers during this very trying time. Many thanks and blessings from myself and our entire family.
Love and Blessings,
Angela Nicholls, and on behalf of:
David and Dolly Adams
Lisa Adams, &
Elaina Adams
We were all quite stunned with the news, she was only thirty-two, but she bravely went through chemotherapy and thankfully went into remission. Although there were certainly many challenges for Amanda, her strength and courage through the diagnosis and treatment was admirable. She is one of the most selfless and grateful people I know. She was most concerned about putting other people out and inconveniencing others during her treatment. I feel blessed that during that summer she was able to stand with me at my wedding.
Unfortunately two years later, the CLL returned. She again went through chemotherapy treatments and successfully went into remission again. Another two years following her treatment she started to feel sick again, but nothing was showing up on her routine bloodwork. After further testing, they discovered that her CLL had turned, uncommonly, into an aggressive form of lymphoma. She started very harsh chemotherapy immediately in March of this year.
With both types of cancer, a bone marrow transplant is really the only cure. The Ottawa General Hospital and their transplant team started the preparations immediately because of the seriousness of the new diagnosis. We are extremely grateful that the transplant team in Ottawa has found an excellent match; surprisingly not from my sisters, parents or I, but from an unknown donor!
All of this has come up very suddenly and we are all very overwhelmed, to say the least. Her procedure date is set for July 29th, 2016. Additionally there is a week of intensive chemotherapy the week before to prepare her for the transplant. This is an incredibly invasive and complicated procedure that is very hard on our sister, and will also be very demanding for her family caregivers. There is much preparation and risk involved, and requires her to live in Ottawa for at least 3 months (potentially 4 or 5) with around the clock intensive care and daily appointments with the specialists in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit.
These accommodations alone will range from $1500-$2000 monthly. On top of that, she will require 24-7 care and attention, which means our family needs to take on this responsibility. With hopeful hearts we are planning this care as I write this, but we will be taking time off work, as well as much time away from our young families. Other costs include the possibility of hiring nurses for assistance because of the intensity and longevity of this commitment, and high risk of complications. She will also require a large amount of medications and services after the procedure is complete. Of course we will be travelling between Ottawa and North Bay to care for her and be with her.
This is where you come in! Many of you have already asked how you may help, which has been much appreciated: First of all, we are asking for prayers for Amanda, the procedure and her recovery, and for our family. We are reaching out to you, our friends and family and colleaugues, for any financial contributions you are able to donate. We wish we didn't have to reach out for financial help, but the reality is that these costs do create a difficult financial burden on Amanda, as well as all of us in the family, and any help would be greatly appreciated, and for which we would be forever grateful. We are truly appreciative of any help we can get and feel blessed to have such amazing family and friends to support us through this and that Amanda has had so much support and encouragment from her colleagues at the Law Library in North Bay.
Amanda is a caring, loving daughter, sister and aunt to four (soon to be five) nieces and she means the world to us! Her grace and perseverance through all of this has been something to be admired. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers during this very trying time. Many thanks and blessings from myself and our entire family.
Love and Blessings,
Angela Nicholls, and on behalf of:
David and Dolly Adams
Lisa Adams, &
Elaina Adams