join.bethematch.org/4aleyda

From Khiarra: On November 2nd 2020 my beloved child Aleyda (Aly) was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic T-Cell Leukemia at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

After initial treatment with chemotherapy was unsuccessful, the Care Team recommended Aleyda join a clinical trial for an investigational drug at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. On the very morning she was scheduled to start the new drug, she suffered an unexpected stroke due to two undetected clots in the cortical vein that caused hemorrhaging in her brain. Through strength and perseverance Aleyda survived what many doctors predicted would end or severely affect the rest of her life, and is recovering remarkably well from a neurological standpoint.

During the five days spent recovering  in the ICU, it was discovered that Aleyda’s form of Leukemia is extremely rare - so rare in fact, that it has never been studied before (and doesn't even have a name!) She is now being treated with targeted therapy and a new combination of chemotherapeutic drugs in the hopes of suppressing her cancer and conditioning her body to receive a Bone Marrow Transplant - the best and most permanent chance for a cure.

Her closest relatives have been tested for crossmatching as potential donors and so far we have not had success in finding a suitable donor, but the dedicated Transplant Team at JHH is searching the worldwide registry of anonymous donors.

The treatment and road to a cure will be a long and sometimes difficult one for Aleyda, but she’s facing it with courage, maturity and her unique sense of humor.

She is in the care of the most qualified and skilled physicians, and we are surrounding her with all our love and encouragement. We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of support from many family members, co-workers, and friends.

We are asking for donations to help support Aleyda with her out of pocket medical expenses, equipment and devices not covered by insurance, additional therapeutic modalities not covered by insurance, costs associated with travel and lodging for family during the extended hospital stays, and items to make Aleyda more comfortable during chemotherapy, procedures and while recovering in hospital and at home.

Aly's maximum out of pocket expenses will be $10,000 per calendar year. Any additional funds raised will be allocated towards Aly's additional treatments not covered by insurance, travel and lodging and making her more comfortable during her recovery at hospital and home.

We realize that many are experiencing hardships of their own due to the Pandemic and economic crisis - so if a donation isn’t an option, we would like to ask any visitors to this page to please check out the following website to arrange for a 100% FREE kit to be mailed to you so you can join the living donor registry. This could save Aleyda’s life or someone else’s in a similar medical situation in the future. (bethematch.org)

We will post regular updates so please check back in with us often.

From our family to yours - Happy Holidays and may the New Year bless you and your loved ones with health, happiness and time together.