Brent & his fight against Leukemia

Howdy! My name is Cydney Dorman and I have started this fundraiser for my cousin, Brent Dorman, who is battling CML Leukemia. His medication alone will cost him $15,000 a month... Yes, you read that correctly... $15,000, JUST so he can live. He will also be missing out on work. Unfortunately, the bills and daily needs do not stop. He will be traveling back and forth to Houston, and there are several different expenses that come with that.

It all started around April 20, 2022. Brent began noticing pain in the left side of his body. He had picked up a giant tractor tire by himself a few days prior, so like any tough 'ole cowboy, he simply wrote it off as being sore or having torn a muscle. After the pain had not subsided after several days, he was finally convinced to go to see a doctor. Brent went to a local urgent care on April 28th. There, they ran blood work and ordered a CT scan for the next day, Friday, April 29th. Saturday, April 30th, he received a phone call no one wants to have. The doctor told him that his WHITE BLOOD cells were EXTREMELY elevated. ** your white blood cells should stay in the range of 4,500 - 11,000. Brents were elevated to 185,000. Like most people, he wanted a second and third opinion. The following Monday, he was informed that he had an enlarged spleen, and enlarged liver, and with his white blood cells being as elevated as the blood tests showed, it was a sign of Leukemia. Immediately, his wife jumped on the phone making all the calls she could - insurance company, MD Anderson, and the past doctors to obtain his test results.

On May 5th, Brent had an appointment with MD Anderson. As soon as he arrived, they admitted him. Brent received his first round of chemo to bring his WBC count down. He was then officially diagnosed with CML Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

In short, his blood started mutating into cancer after a certain protein in his body reached his blood. Many years ago, before all the advancements in science and technology, this diagnosis was a death sentence. Thankfully, that is not the case anymore. Now, there IS a treatment called "Target Therapy Drug". This drug that Brent will have to take is a mediation that will BLOCK the protein and the cancer can be stopped. Unfortunately, that drug is $15,000 a month... He NEEDS that drug in order to stay alive.

Not only will the cost of medication fall upon Brent and his family, but there are also the expenses of the trips to Houston. Currently, Brent is having to travel to Houston every week for blood work, and every other week for doctor appointments. In the coming months, when the trial of medication begins, it is a great chance that he will have to travel down every week for the doctor to monitor him closely.

His insurance has a max for prescriptions - which, leaves Brent paying over $10,000 a month. Currently, Brent and Jen are working on getting assistance from the manufacturer of the drug. They have also been in contact with other resources such as cancer foundations. Of course, things such as, take time. His insurance premium is $1,000 a month because of the upgrade that had to be made to the plan just so that he could get into MD Anderson.

Brent is a gifted horse trainer and training horse is his sole income. Since the medication makes him extremely tired and sluggish, this will take away his income - training horses, cattle day working, and working with his talented bucking bulls. This brings his monthly income down to basically zero and the hospital bills are already starting to pile up.

The future is very uncertain for Brent. He is starting the trial drug and if it helps, he could be in remission in two(2) years. If not, this drug will be something he is on for the rest of his life. As it is a chemo drug, it will be very hard on his body. Most of you know Brent personally, and for those that do not, this man is tough as nails. He is in good spirits and is acting as if nothing is phasing him.

*** We do want to make note that Brent and the family have decided to split any donations made. It is Brent's wish that 25% of the donations be given to Leukemia research and another 25% be given to Gary and Pat Bell as they both have cancer and are currently having to sell off their family land to pay the expenses. ***

Brent, Jen, I, and the rest of the family THANK you in advance for any and all donations made to this courageous fight against CML Leukemia.