Breezy Bre’s BMT
Donation protected
“Mom, I think something is really wrong with me."
These are words every mom hears from their child at one time or another, typically when another school day is on the horizon or it's time to clean their room or do chores.
Bre isn't that kind of kid so when she said that to me on August 8, 2017 I knew something just wasn't right.
Thus began the journey we have been on for nearly 6 years now. A journey that has had several hiccups, delays and “what the heck is going on?” moments that have lead to this point.
Breanna needs a bone marrow transplant…and she needs it now.
Bre got her diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia in August of 2017, just weeks before starting her senior year of high school. She didn’t let that stop her though and she had an awesome year. We were told Bre would need a bone marrow transplant shortly after she graduated from high school; this sent us into a flurry of activity and panic. We were going to have to move, the younger kids had to change schools, we had to prepare for me to be off work for months, on and on and on. We started fundraising, etc to help with these expenses and then the decision was made to postpone her transplant. So, we paid the remaining medical expenses and the remaining funds went to Bre’s education.
Bre started college in 2019 at South Central and has been working at Pet Smart for nearly 4 years now. She worked all through COVID and never complained. When Jordan found out she was pregnant, Bre decided that once the baby was born, that she would move to Georgia to live with Jordan and care for the baby so Jordan didn’t have to put him in daycare. Bre and I were both able to be in Georgia when Enzo was born in January 2021. Bre moved to Georgia in May 2021 shortly after she graduated with high honors with her AA degree. She is an amazing auntie and caregiver to that little boy and misses him terribly right now.
Bre was loving life in Georgia and doing her “ I am an adult” thing. She bought a new car, had transferred to the Pet Smart in Valdosta and worked with some really great people. The South really suited her – the weather was a big plus Bre was getting her labs done monthly and her Hematology team at Mayo Clinic was keeping a close eye on her. She came home in June for Madison’s graduation and was able to have an in person appointment with her team in Rochester. They were really happy with her status and felt she was stable at that point.
Then October came in like a wrecking ball.
Bre’s labs took a turn and her counts were dropping. Her doctor wanted her to get labs twice a week and told her she needed to come back to Minnesota for a bone marrow biopsy at Mayo Clinic as soon as possible. I was already planning on going to Georgia for a visit, so when I came home in December, Bre came with me.
Bre has started on a medication regimen that has been working well for her. Her count’s are much more stable and she hasn’t had too many side effects, but no medication will cure her. The last two months have been a whirlwind. Her appointment at Mayo on December 5th was a 10 hour day – including her 5th bone marrow biopsy. She met with Dr. Patnaik and Dr. Shah who counseled us on the status of her condition.
It was time for transplant.
Mayo Clinic’s bone marrow transplant program is unique in that most if not all care is done on an “outpatient” basis – meaning that Bre doesn’t have to stay in the hospital the entire time. She will go to the clinic/hospital every day for assessment and lab work, but then can go back to a more “home like” environment. Bre needs a caregiver with her for the duration of her stay meaning I have to take leave from work to be with her for the entirety of her recovery – lots of togetherness…she is super excited. This is great for healing and mental health…but hard on the finances. Patients and families have to find short term, furnished housing in Rochester for approximately 4 months (around 100 days) which will be upwards of $8,000 – average of $90-100 per night plus food, parking, gas, etc.
None of that expense is covered by insurance which is why I am establishing this fundraiser for her.
Bre was living her adult life and has adult responsibilities and bills to pay. Even with insurance, the medical expenses for Bone Marrow Transplant can be in the thousands of dollars with deductibles, co-insurance, medications, etc. None of us want her to be facing a lifetime of debt at 23 years old.
This girls strength and resolve are unmatched by anyone I have ever seen. We all want her to be able to recover from this and have the life she deserves.
Anyone that has ever met Bre knows that she is a fighter and God willing she will fly through this with her never give up attitude and we will see her amazing smile and hear her quick witted comebacks for many, many more years to come.
Thank you all for your prayers, your generosity and your kind words. We are forever grateful to have such an outstanding community supporting Bre and rooting for her!
Please feel free to send her messages of encouragement and support. She will be able to have visitors in Rochester at some point and we will welcome the company! I will continue to update and will start a caringbridge page as well.
We appreciate our community endlessly.
With love and grateful hearts,
Lori, Steve, Jordan, Enzo, Breanna, Madison and Carter
These are words every mom hears from their child at one time or another, typically when another school day is on the horizon or it's time to clean their room or do chores.
Bre isn't that kind of kid so when she said that to me on August 8, 2017 I knew something just wasn't right.
Thus began the journey we have been on for nearly 6 years now. A journey that has had several hiccups, delays and “what the heck is going on?” moments that have lead to this point.
Breanna needs a bone marrow transplant…and she needs it now.
Bre got her diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia in August of 2017, just weeks before starting her senior year of high school. She didn’t let that stop her though and she had an awesome year. We were told Bre would need a bone marrow transplant shortly after she graduated from high school; this sent us into a flurry of activity and panic. We were going to have to move, the younger kids had to change schools, we had to prepare for me to be off work for months, on and on and on. We started fundraising, etc to help with these expenses and then the decision was made to postpone her transplant. So, we paid the remaining medical expenses and the remaining funds went to Bre’s education.
Bre started college in 2019 at South Central and has been working at Pet Smart for nearly 4 years now. She worked all through COVID and never complained. When Jordan found out she was pregnant, Bre decided that once the baby was born, that she would move to Georgia to live with Jordan and care for the baby so Jordan didn’t have to put him in daycare. Bre and I were both able to be in Georgia when Enzo was born in January 2021. Bre moved to Georgia in May 2021 shortly after she graduated with high honors with her AA degree. She is an amazing auntie and caregiver to that little boy and misses him terribly right now.
Bre was loving life in Georgia and doing her “ I am an adult” thing. She bought a new car, had transferred to the Pet Smart in Valdosta and worked with some really great people. The South really suited her – the weather was a big plus Bre was getting her labs done monthly and her Hematology team at Mayo Clinic was keeping a close eye on her. She came home in June for Madison’s graduation and was able to have an in person appointment with her team in Rochester. They were really happy with her status and felt she was stable at that point.
Then October came in like a wrecking ball.
Bre’s labs took a turn and her counts were dropping. Her doctor wanted her to get labs twice a week and told her she needed to come back to Minnesota for a bone marrow biopsy at Mayo Clinic as soon as possible. I was already planning on going to Georgia for a visit, so when I came home in December, Bre came with me.
Bre has started on a medication regimen that has been working well for her. Her count’s are much more stable and she hasn’t had too many side effects, but no medication will cure her. The last two months have been a whirlwind. Her appointment at Mayo on December 5th was a 10 hour day – including her 5th bone marrow biopsy. She met with Dr. Patnaik and Dr. Shah who counseled us on the status of her condition.
It was time for transplant.
Mayo Clinic’s bone marrow transplant program is unique in that most if not all care is done on an “outpatient” basis – meaning that Bre doesn’t have to stay in the hospital the entire time. She will go to the clinic/hospital every day for assessment and lab work, but then can go back to a more “home like” environment. Bre needs a caregiver with her for the duration of her stay meaning I have to take leave from work to be with her for the entirety of her recovery – lots of togetherness…she is super excited. This is great for healing and mental health…but hard on the finances. Patients and families have to find short term, furnished housing in Rochester for approximately 4 months (around 100 days) which will be upwards of $8,000 – average of $90-100 per night plus food, parking, gas, etc.
None of that expense is covered by insurance which is why I am establishing this fundraiser for her.
Bre was living her adult life and has adult responsibilities and bills to pay. Even with insurance, the medical expenses for Bone Marrow Transplant can be in the thousands of dollars with deductibles, co-insurance, medications, etc. None of us want her to be facing a lifetime of debt at 23 years old.
This girls strength and resolve are unmatched by anyone I have ever seen. We all want her to be able to recover from this and have the life she deserves.
Anyone that has ever met Bre knows that she is a fighter and God willing she will fly through this with her never give up attitude and we will see her amazing smile and hear her quick witted comebacks for many, many more years to come.
Thank you all for your prayers, your generosity and your kind words. We are forever grateful to have such an outstanding community supporting Bre and rooting for her!
Please feel free to send her messages of encouragement and support. She will be able to have visitors in Rochester at some point and we will welcome the company! I will continue to update and will start a caringbridge page as well.
We appreciate our community endlessly.
With love and grateful hearts,
Lori, Steve, Jordan, Enzo, Breanna, Madison and Carter
Co-organizers (3)
Lori Larson
Organizer
Mankato, MN
Breanna Hawker
Beneficiary
Stephen Larson
Co-organizer