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Amanda's Healing

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Dear Friends,

As many of you know, our beloved Amanda has been struggling through an intense and heartrending battle with lymphoma over the last year and a half. Many of you have already given incredibly generously since her diagnosis. Amanda has been unable to work and your kindness has helped her to afford basic neccesities. None of it has gone unappreciated. Please know that it is very difficult for her to ask for help, especially in light of all that has been done for her. But she is deeply in need of more help and care from her community. She has already begun her work with Dr. Lee and I can tell you that she is healthier and more vital than I have seen her in months. I believe, with all the love she has in this world, we can come together to give her the help she needs and deserves. Please read her words below.

Another option is to give directly to the New Life Center in Amanda's name. The added benefit is that 100% of the money would go to covering her costs, rather than the percentage taken by GoFundMe. If you are interested in this route, please contact myself or Amanda. The fundraiser will be withdrawn as soon as we reach the $5000 goal whether on or offline.

Please share widely! Every little bit helps! Thank you.

Warmly,
Katie


FROM AMANDA:
Hello All,

It is with great sincerity and hope that I write this. I have been undergoing treatment for a very rare and aggressive subtype of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma for a year and a half now. As many of you know, I have undergone grueling therapies in hopes of remission. However, despite some initial progress with each treatment, the lymphoma has been resistant every time.

I began my treatment with six rounds of extremely rigorous inpatient chemotherapy. Eighteen weeks later, a follow-up CT scan showed that some cancer remained and I would need radiation. While awaiting the start of my 26 rounds of radiation to my chest, the tumor above my heart returned to its original size—a little over 7 centimeters. When I went back for my next follow-up scan, it showed that the radiation had taken care of the tumor above my heart, but there were now multiple suspicious spots on my lungs. Two painful biopsies later, it was confirmed that these suspicious spots were in fact lymphoma. Together with my team of experts at Dana Farber, I decided to proceed with a clinical trial of Car T Cell therapy.  This process involves harvesting my T-cells (a type of white blood cell), genetically engineering them to fight my specific cancer, and then returning them to my body. The risks associated with this were possible neurotoxicity, uncontrollable fevers and even death. I felt this was my best option for a cure so I went for it. At one month out, I showed an 80% response. At two months out I was stable and then at three months the lymphoma had grown back to the original size. I am now undergoing immunotherapy treatment in an attempt to ‘wake up’ those Car T cells and get them fighting again.

A few weeks ago, in the midst of my frustration and fear, I had the incredible opportunity to meet a practitioner who helped a friend survive a potentially fatal illness over 30 years ago.

His name is Bo In Lee and he is an internationally acclaimed practitioner who has worked specifically with people living with chronic illness, chronic pain and cancer for over forty years. He is supported by Dr. Ralph Moss who has personally researched and visited cancer treatment centers all over the world, both conventional and non-conventional. His research has culminated in the widely respected Moss Report. The New Life Center is included in this report among six other centers in the Northeast.

My initial meeting with Bo In Lee was incredible. He spoke about the environment that my body has fostered to create a hospitable place for this cancer to grow. Through a comprehensive program of complementary and alternative treatments, nutritional support, and yoga, we aim to shift this environment and make the cancer an unwelcome guest.

I have heard a lot about Bo In Lee over the years. Most notable to me has been that if he feels like he can’t help you, he will tell you. He has asked me to come live at The New Life Health Center for four weeks. I know deeply in my heart that this is what I have to do to continue to stay alive. I feel very strongly that this is the missing piece to the puzzle of my healing. I will continue to follow through with therapies at Dana Farber at this time, but it is clear that they don’t have the full answer. I know I have found a piece of what they are missing.

I’m hoping to raise $5,000 to help cover my treatments, travel, and associated costs.

Since my diagnosis a year and a half ago, I’ve been forced to ask for help. Independence and self-sufficiency have been essential to me all of my life and it’s very difficult for me to ask for help, even when it is an actual matter of life and death. But there’s no room for pride when my life is on the line. So here I am, once again asking for help. An essential missing piece to the puzzle of my healing waits for me at The New Life Center. I want more than anything to live. Please help if you can. Thank you.

 In Gratitude,
Amanda

Here are links to more information:
The New Life Health Center, Boston MA
http://www.anewlife.com/

Dr. Ralph Moss—Cancer Decisions
http://www.cancerdecisions.com/
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Donations 

  • Aelita Neimanis
    • $100 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Katie Riley
Organizer
Portland, ME
Amanda Raleigh
Beneficiary

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