HELP ME BEAT MY CANCER

My name is Laura Arrowood and I desperately need your help in beating my Cancer.

After a Doctor's visit in April, the next day, I got a call from my Doctor instructing me to go to Emory Hospital immediately as my kidneys were starting to shut down. They then informed me I had Cancer. Multiple Myeloma specifically. Which is cancer of the bone marrow. I ended up being in the hospital for 8 days that time. Needless to say, the news just obliterated my life as I knew it. 

So far, I have had to make 62 trips to Emory Hospital just for Chemo. This type of Chemotherapy is by way of Injections and a pill regimen that should keep my Cancer at bay, as far as hope to not do any further bone damage. I have also had three bone marrow biopsies, a PET scan, two full body xrays, and miscellaneous other xrays, and so many blood tests, I cannot count them all. I have been poked and prodded, twisted and xrayed so many times I have lost count. Each trip to the Cancer Center, over an hour away round trip. 

Since my diagnosis, and ten months of treatment at Emory in Atlanta, I have thankfully been accepted into a Stem Cell Transplant Clinical Trial at Vanderbilt Medical University Hospital in Nashville TN. 

There were many steps to overcome on the way. I have had a breast Cancer scare, as well as also finding out in addition to all my other health issues, I have something called Latent TB which is a non contagious form of the old fashioned TB. I had to have all kinds of other tests and procedures to make sure I was even a candidate, since in addition to these new diagnosis, I have already been treated for Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Insomnia, COPD, and Hypothyroidism. As well, with my health so poor for so long, and the number of medications I am on, my teeth are in a bad state. Over 8 dental visits, I had to have 6 teeth completely extracted and another 6 that needed some form of composite repair. And then I will require an Upper AND Lower Partial in order to even chew correctly. To make sure to explain fully, the reason for all this dental work, is not just sheer overall repairs, or vanity. It is all REQUIRED by my Hematologist to be completed prior to the Stem Cell Transplant. Bleeding, infection and post-transplant oral complications, can apparently be shockingly dangerous for a Transplant patient. After calling Dental schools, places that claim they can do work at a reduced rate for Cancer patients, I found none that can help for various reasons, but mainly because there are so many complications with what needs done. We ended up finding a Dentist who is going to do all the work at and donate a 20% discount. Which will be a huge help. I still owe him for the work. 

Shockingly they do these Stem Cell treatments out-patient these days, so we need to have lodging for somewhere around 45 days, which is insanely expensive - since Vanderbilt hospital is smack in the middle of Nashville. Then of course are all the meals, travel and all the miscellaneous costs that go with that. So, I am now in Nashville getting ready for my transplant. I am getting shots to ramp up my Stem cell production, and just got a port put in my chest. For those of you who don't know, that is a line that goes directly into your body. They will use it for giving me, as well as taking out my Stem cells to clean them, and then also to put the cleaned stem cells back in. This port will stay in throughout my treatment. I will get those "ramping up" shots through the 6th. Then they collect my Stem Cells on 7th. Depending on how getting funding goes, it could be 7th, 8th, AND 9th for collection. Then on the 15th and 16th I would get two SERIOUSLY strong Chemo shots. Then on the 18th, I would get my cleaned cells back!!!! Then, my immune system will be nearly literally gone. I will have no way to fight infection at all, and will be very, very sick from all the medications, and of course, the Chemo itself. After all this, I am still not truly out of the woods until more than 130 days. Then they tell me it'll be more than a year before I am back to normal, assuming there are no problems, or infections. 

As I have already said, I have had numerous health problems through the years, and have been able to muddle somehow through the expenses by the grace of God, and A LOT of help from my parents. With me not being able to work for the last few years, as you can imagine, any savings I had is now long gone. With even just the most basic costs of my care, I have actually had to move away from my own home, and come to Atlanta, GA to stay with my Mother so she could take care of me, and provide my food and shelter. I don't own a home, have any savings or own anything of value that could be sold. I have no retirement fund, no 401 K, or anything at all. Both of my parents are in their 70's and have given all that they can to help me in this fight. They simply have no more to give. As it is now, we of course could not afford a nurse, so my Mother came with me to Nashville, take care of me here too. 

I have tried to explain my needs without excessive detail, but am happy to answer any questions about any of this at any time. I also will, or if I am unable, have a family member try to keep you all updated.

I wrestled for a long time with my pride as far as asking for help. I AM willing to keep fighting. I know it will be a huge battle for me, but with your assistance, I can continue with my transplant. I am out of funds and desperately need your help. I promise that I will attack this Cancer with all I have!  

So I am appealing to you all, to help me. Thanks so very much for reading my story, and considering helping me along my way, and God Bless.

Laura Conte Arrowood