A Fighting Chance for Arben
Donation protected
Hello everyone, my name is Ardiana Nikci. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to create this page but life is unpredictable and so here we are. If you’re reading this, I’m already more than happy that you cared enough to even click the link and read my uncle’s story.
My uncle, Arben Haxhijaj, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in September 2017 at the age of 44 years old. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cells. Originally, he was diagnosed with PRE-Leukemia (Myelodysplastic syndrome, MDS) which although devastating, gave us some kind of hope that his condition could be cured before it got worse. He has had over 15 bone marrow biopsies as well as MULTIPLE multiple chemotherapy treatments and clinical trials over the course of 2 years. Our goal was to get him into remission in hopes of receiving a Stem Cell transplant but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. Our next goal is to strengthen him as much as we could and pray that he will receive immunotherapy in the near future. With God, my friends and close family as our witnesses, we have all seen Arben spend a year and a half out of the past two years, waking up at 7am running to New York Presbyterian Hospital, waiting countless hours for platelets, blood transfusions, check-ups, more therapy, etc. He would then resume to go to work with such a draining diagnosis and no energy left in him. He would work from 3pm until 12am everyday, getting home at almost 2am, just to do it all over again on 5 hours of sleep. His insurance company promised to cover his hospital bills as long as he was working but unfortunately he is very weak and tired and has spent the last 5 months with more frequent admissions to the hospital rather than on bed rest or even working for that matter. We were then told that even if he wasn’t able to work eventually, something would be figured out and they would pay his bills. This was indeed false information since he has already received numerous medical bills. He is financially unstable and depressed all while fighting for his life. He is the father of two beautiful young girls, aged 8 and 13 as well as the husband to an incredibly loving wife who has spent the past two years running back and forth from work to hospital visits, never leaving Arben’s side. Unfortunately, his wife’s working hours were cut short at work as well and they are struggling to get by. It has been my duty as his niece to care for him and deal with the doctors directly and although it’s been a struggle, I am trying my best. We never know what the future holds and being that he has already received medical bills as well as being behind on rent, I created this page to tell my uncle’s story. My family has done their best to pay off whatever we could for the last 2 years. I, myself, have taken a great sum of my savings which was directed towards Law school in hopes of taking away Arben’s financial stress but there is only so much we could do and this is why I turn to you all. Arben has hesitated and not allowed me to make this page up until now because he believed he was strong enough to keep on working for the sake of his family. However, God has his own plans in mind. If he does receive the therapy anytime soon, he will spend another few months in the hospital/at home until he adapts and can get back on his feet again. With that being said, each donation counts. Each donation will make a difference in Arben and his family’s life. Even if you cannot donate, we are all still so incredibly grateful that you took the time out of your day to read his story! Also, if possible, I ask you all to please at least share the link and say a prayer for my uncle. Again, I would like to thank you all in advance from the bottom of my heart! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
My uncle, Arben Haxhijaj, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in September 2017 at the age of 44 years old. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cells. Originally, he was diagnosed with PRE-Leukemia (Myelodysplastic syndrome, MDS) which although devastating, gave us some kind of hope that his condition could be cured before it got worse. He has had over 15 bone marrow biopsies as well as MULTIPLE multiple chemotherapy treatments and clinical trials over the course of 2 years. Our goal was to get him into remission in hopes of receiving a Stem Cell transplant but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. Our next goal is to strengthen him as much as we could and pray that he will receive immunotherapy in the near future. With God, my friends and close family as our witnesses, we have all seen Arben spend a year and a half out of the past two years, waking up at 7am running to New York Presbyterian Hospital, waiting countless hours for platelets, blood transfusions, check-ups, more therapy, etc. He would then resume to go to work with such a draining diagnosis and no energy left in him. He would work from 3pm until 12am everyday, getting home at almost 2am, just to do it all over again on 5 hours of sleep. His insurance company promised to cover his hospital bills as long as he was working but unfortunately he is very weak and tired and has spent the last 5 months with more frequent admissions to the hospital rather than on bed rest or even working for that matter. We were then told that even if he wasn’t able to work eventually, something would be figured out and they would pay his bills. This was indeed false information since he has already received numerous medical bills. He is financially unstable and depressed all while fighting for his life. He is the father of two beautiful young girls, aged 8 and 13 as well as the husband to an incredibly loving wife who has spent the past two years running back and forth from work to hospital visits, never leaving Arben’s side. Unfortunately, his wife’s working hours were cut short at work as well and they are struggling to get by. It has been my duty as his niece to care for him and deal with the doctors directly and although it’s been a struggle, I am trying my best. We never know what the future holds and being that he has already received medical bills as well as being behind on rent, I created this page to tell my uncle’s story. My family has done their best to pay off whatever we could for the last 2 years. I, myself, have taken a great sum of my savings which was directed towards Law school in hopes of taking away Arben’s financial stress but there is only so much we could do and this is why I turn to you all. Arben has hesitated and not allowed me to make this page up until now because he believed he was strong enough to keep on working for the sake of his family. However, God has his own plans in mind. If he does receive the therapy anytime soon, he will spend another few months in the hospital/at home until he adapts and can get back on his feet again. With that being said, each donation counts. Each donation will make a difference in Arben and his family’s life. Even if you cannot donate, we are all still so incredibly grateful that you took the time out of your day to read his story! Also, if possible, I ask you all to please at least share the link and say a prayer for my uncle. Again, I would like to thank you all in advance from the bottom of my heart! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
Organiser and beneficiary
Ardiana Nikci
Organiser
Brooklyn, NY
Edita Karapetyan
Beneficiary