On behalf of the Rieman Family & Friends, we are facing unknown circumstances in a battle with the most aggressive form of Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) for Ali Rieman, age 25 of Cuyahoga County. We need support in many ways. First, we need to Rally for Ali and show love and support to her as she faces her third transplant which has never been done before for any AML patient. Second, we need financial support to cover loss of wages for her parents, hotel costs, food, traveling expenses, and uncovered medical bills. 7 years of treatment has drained the family financially.

RECAP

Ali Rieman wasn’t feeling well and thought she had a virus with a sore throat. Her throat and neck became unbearable in pain, so she returned to the doctor office. Doctors at the office suspect mono so they drew blood. On 10/06/2015, doctors contacted her parents to come to the office with results of the bloodwork. That afternoon she was admitted to Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital, and they began chemo a few days later. Day 9 of chemo treatment she encountered gangrene gas that blew up in her gut; it was so bad that it perforated her colon. Emergency doctors had to remove parts of her colon to survive. This incident took place during her 1st round of chemo. She had three rounds of chemo prior to her 1st bone marrow transplant and her brother, Justin Rieman was her donor. At age 18, Ali remained in the hospital for 6 months to recover before coming home to heal and regain strength after losing 45 pounds. of muscle. She began working out to rebuild her muscle loss and was able to reach 135lbs. She was in remission for 2 ½ years. In 2018, Ali found a lump in her breast, and she returned to the hospital for tests. Ali was informed on her 21st birthday (March 20) that Leukemia was back in her breast. There are only 5 known cases where Leukemia has returned in this way.

She was admitted to Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital again and she underwent three more rounds of chemo and underwent a 2nd transplant, called stem cell transplant, her mother, Shelly Rieman was her donor. She remained hospitalized for 5 months. During this period, she had gone septic (April 2018) due to the amount of chemotherapy. Ali remained in remission until October of 2020, this time Leukemia came back hiding in the opposite breast. She was admitted to Seidman Cancer Center for a month for, yet another therapy called NK Cell therapy. She was tested again, and doctors didn’t think it was working and they were running out of options, so they sent her to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for Immunotherapy. Ali was there for a month and a half, returned to Cleveland for one month, returned for a week for round 2 of Immunotherapy, but they had to stop treatment because she went septic again and quit breathing for 2 minutes. Doctors decided the Immunotherapy was too much on her body, but it put her in remission once again. She was supposed to have 4 rounds of Immunotherapy, but doctors halted the treatment. According to her doctor, Dr. Daver, at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, Ali is the only known case of AML patients that had 2 transplants, NK Cell Therapy, and Immunotherapy.

Ali returned to Cleveland and remained in remission until her routine bone marrow test came back positive for Leukemia on July 5th, 2021. Back in Cleveland, Dr. Dalal of University Hospital researched trials and found a potential trial in Maryland at National Institute of Health, (NIH) to include CarT Therapy for AML patients with Dr. Shah. Ali went to NIH at the end of July for testing to see if she would be a candidate for the trial and was accepted. While at NIH, they retrieved some of her cells to genetically modify them. She returned home because it takes 3 to 4 weeks to modify the cells. Ali was put on chemo back at Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital for a week of chemo. Ali prepared to return to NIH. The first day back for testing, Ali found out she had a sinus infection and pneumonia, so they haven’t proceeded yet with the infusion of new cells. Ali’s most recent bone marrow biopsy results on 09/08/22 showed 70% Leukemia in her bone marrow. Ali and her parents are expected to be in Maryland for at least 6 weeks. 4 days of chemo, one day of rest, and then they will infuse the CarT Cells. She will remain in the hospital a minimum of 2 weeks to make sure the cells are working, then she would remain in Maryland outpatient for another 2 weeks for continued testing. Depending on her health status, she will either be transferred by family or by ambulance to return to Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital for a 3rd bone marrow transplant. Doctors stated that she will receive 4 days of chemo instead of 3. Additionally, she will receive a higher dose infusion of CarT Cells than previous patients.

September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. Please help us “Rally for Ali” and show love and support to her and the family as she battles Leukemia.