Buffy Davis' Battle Against Leukemia

My mom needs your help. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and has had chemo, radiation, and most recently a bone marrow transplant. She has already racked up $50k+ in medical bills (her out-of-pocket price) while unable to work. She does not have short term disability coverage and is out of paid leave from work, and is struggling to make ends meet. Every little bit helps, and we are grateful for your consideration. Please read below for more background on my mother's story. 

*Buffy Updates below Bio*

Buffy Davis is a Black single mother of 2 boys, Brandon and Nicholas, from Washington, D.C. who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Philadelphia Chromosome Positive during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the course of the year she has experienced many hardships, not only with her health but also just life during COVID. Buffy is a 45-year-old career woman that has dedicated most of her career to serving as a government employee for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Not only has she dedicated most of her career to government work, she also is very active in her own community. She was on her Co-Op housing board for many years to ensure other D.C. Natives were able to have access to the affordable housing her Co-Op offers. Buffy was a very involved DCPS parent for 20 years, where she served on the PTA where she helped to fundraise for Shepard Elementary School, Alice Deal Middle School, and Woodrow Wilson High School. Outside of fundraising she was a volunteer for many DCPS related events and took pride in being there for the children of the community. Buffy was overweight most of her life before she changed her life around for the better in 2006, she began eating healthy and exercising. Buffy completely turned her life around and even ran in multiple 5k marathons with a goal of running a half marathon. For the past 14 years she has taken her health very seriously by maintaining her healthy lifestyle and keeping close contact with her health care providers. Buffy began experiencing harsh pains in her side and chest, the pains grew to be unbearable, so she sought council from her primary care provider. After X-Rays, bloodwork, and a multitude of other tests, Buffy was in excruciating pain and her doctor recommended she go straight to the Emergency Room. Buffy went to Washington Hospital Center emergency room, where she was misdiagnosed and had her belongings stolen by a staff member. This was when she changed her emergency care provider from the Washington Hospital Center to Georgetown Medical Center, where she later received her diagnosis and treatment.  After many tests she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on May 12, 2020. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that primarily affects the white blood cells, which are the blood cells that form your immune system. This was especially scary because Covid-19 is easier to contract and harder on the body of those with immune system deficiencies. Buffy has been confined to her home and the hospital for her own safety. Her youngest son Nicholas left his new post-college career job as a horticulturist in Washington state to take care of his mother. In an attempt to find donors, Nicholas and Brandon had to undergo many tests to see if they would be good matches for their mother’s transfusion procedure, Brandon ended up being the best match. Nicholas has taken classes on how to be a medical caregiver to his mother and take care of all her needs while also maintaining a sterile environment. He has had to take classes on how to care for her all her intravenous lines, such as flushing the lines, cleaning the lines, and all other aspects of at-home medical care for his mother. Some of the treatments and procedures Buffy had to under go were chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow biopsies, bone marrow transplant, and a wide variety of medications which have all taken a toll on her emotionally and physically.  Post transplant, she has been unable to work and needs assistance as she has run out of donated leave and no longer has an income. Her doctors do not expect a full recovery until May of next year.

****UPDATES****
-After the massive influx of support she has received from the fellow government employees I now have enough leave to least me through December!  A HUGE thank you to all the government employees who have helped me out and everyone else who has donated!
-Buffy has faced another set back in her health; she has Graft VS Host Disease where her body is rejecting her transplant. 


All donations are greatly appreciated, we know money is tight for every during the pandemic so anything you are able to donate will be cherished. If you are unable to donate, we understand, and hope that you will share this donation page and encourage others to donate. Thank you so much!

This post was made by her son, Nicholas, and a family friend Hannah Brandon. Nick will be managing the page and his mother will still be managing her own finances.