Betty's Leukemia Battle

In November of 2017 Betty Kits-Goldstein was suddenly diagnosed with acute mixed phenotype leukemia. This is a rare form of leukemia (actually 2 types of leukemia combined) that attacks the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. For 2 months she was in the University of Alberta Hospital undergoing many treatments including 3 rounds of chemotherapy and 3 bone marrow biopsies. At this time she is in remission and resting in the comfort of her own home but returning to the hospital 3 times a week as an outpatient. In order for her to stay healthy she must undergo a bone marrow transplant. This will, the Lord willing, happen in Calgary, Alberta (3 hours from Edmonton) in early March 2018. For one month Betty will be admitted to the hospital and then will be an outpatient in Calgary for 2 additional months. While Betty is preparing for, receiving and recovering from the bone marrow transplant she will need a full time caregiver. Betty, her family and her voluntary caregivers will be incuring a lot of extra expenses while away from home including:
-Travel: Lynn and Terry are sharing this job and will travel back and forth from Edmonton to Calgary numerous times during the 3 months. Terry will need to continue his full time job near Edmonton during the week.
-Accomodations in Calgary (apartments near the hospital)
-Meals for Betty and her caregiver
-Medical expenses not covered by Alberta Health (there are many drugs associated with the transplant)
-Fuel costs and parking at the hospital for Betty's appointments
-Loss of income, Betty is currently receiving EI Benefits but this only covers part of her income.

For those of you who are wondering, I am Betty's niece (the one who used to hide her bread crusts under Aunt Betty's kitchen table at lunch time). I live in Edmonton, Alberta and  I have set up a bank account for this gofundme page. We intend to pay for the rent of the apartment that Betty will be staying in, bus fare for Lynn and reimbursing Terry for his gas mileage straight from the account. Any extra funds that are not needed after the bone marrow transplant will be donated back to the cancer foundation.