On April 29th of this year, Andrea went to the clinic for a basic check-up since she hadn't been feeling that well. After running a few tests, they realized why. Normally, you have a platelet count between 150,000 - 450,00/microliter; Andrea's blood platelet count was 4000. She wound up staying in the hospital for a few nights, and was released after a blood transfusion a few days later. The transfusion did not have the effect we had hoped.

By May 12th, Andrea had already spent 9 days in the hospital. Her blood pressure crashed, she had severe anemia, they took was seemed like hundreds of blood samples, and a bone marrow biopsy was finally completed. But still, no answers.

By the end of the month, Andrea was being treated for ITP - Immune Thrombocytopenia - an autoimmune disorder where your body attacks your own blood cells. The doctors still did not have any answers, and this treatment was not working. Andrea had already received 4 blood infusions, and the energy she felt after each one only lasted a day or 2. She spent the majority of time in bed; she was too weak to do anything besides attend her doctors appointments and make the occasional trip to the bathroom. Even after a 2nd bone marrow biopsy, there were still no answers.

It took over another month before Andrea finally received a diagnosis: Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a type of blood cancer in which her body cannot produce enough (or any) healthy blood cells. The treatment for this type of cancer consists of chemotherapy, followed up with a bone marrow transplant. Andrea will need to spend the next 3 months in the hospital for daily appointments and after-care.

Throughout this whole ordeal, Andrea's wife Michelle has taken care of her every need, starting with the initial doctor's visits, to driving hours one way to get to the hospital Andrea is currently being treated at, to ensuring that Andrea and all their pets have food and are taken care of. Throughout all of this, Michelle still needs to work to pay the bills, but it's getting harder and harder for her to leave Andrea's side. Donations raised in this gofundme will allow Michelle to spend just a little bit more time at home, assist with the medical bills that they're too stressed to even think about right now, and offer whatever reprieve it can to the worry of how they are going to get through this.

I will be adding updates on Andrea's health as I get it. The money raised in this gofundme is only accessible by Michelle and Andrea; I am simply setting this up and getting things rolling. Please share as much as you can. Every donation matters.

UPDATE: I've been corrected with what happens following the initial transplant. Because the procedure is so invasive and critical, Andrea will have daily appointments, however she is required to complete these as outpatient. In order for her to be eligible for the treatment to begin, she must live within a certain radius of Rochester. This means, Andrea and Michelle will need to completely uproot themselves and move into a home within the required distance. Michelle will not be able to work due to taking care of Andrea. They will not be able to care for their dogs or cats. They will not have income during this period. And we do not know how expensive it will be to rent a place for 4 months. Please consider donating, even a couple bucks. I was hoping we would have a little more time to raise funds, and I'm realizing we do not. Thank you for taking the time to read through everything!