Caring for Kinsey During Bone Marrow Transplant

Kinsey was diagnosed with very severe aplastic anemia at the age of 5, and her parents were told she probably had 4 weeks to live. In the hope of creating a bone marrow match, her parents had a third child through a surrogate. That child, Teagan, is a perfect match. But miraculously, Kinsey began showing signs of remission weeks before the transplant was scheduled in June 2002.

Fast forward through 20+ years of medical challenges - during which Kinsey also earned a degree from Stanford University, secured her dream job, and married the love of her life last June. When talking with her doctors about about the possibility of starting a family, Kinsey was told she needed more tests. Those tests revealed she had relapsed.

After another year of treatment, countless biopsies, and tests, the doctors said she needed a bone marrow transplant. Local doctors referred her to a world-renowned specialist, Dr. Amy DeZern, at Johns Hopkins. Kinsey and her mom, Karen, moved in July to the Ulman House for young cancer patients in Baltimore (Kinsey calls it Fight Camp). Her sister, Teagan (now 22), flew to Johns Hopkins last week and donated bone marrow through a three-hour surgical procedure to transplant into Kinsey. Kinsey is now slowly recovering and waiting to see if her sister's marrow will engraft and give her a chance at a long, healthy life. They will be there, in isolation, until 100 days post transplant (Dec. 11). She has a wonderful village of support and it is my hope that those of us fortunate enough to know her will not only help, but share with strangers who will also want to help this smart, beautiful, strong young woman.

As Karen's friend for 47 years and Kinsey's honorary aunt, I wanted to set up this fund to help cover Kinsey's growing medical expenses. Kinsey's parents spent more than $250,000 out of pocket when she was 5-7 and treated for over 27 months by a pediatric specialist in Wisconsin. Kinsey (28) and her husband, Dyuce (30), began draining retirement savings and taking on medical debt earlier this year. Kinsey's out-of-pocket medical expenses in 2025 alone have exceeded $30,000 (with insurance paying millions more).

When I learned yesterday that she needed a drug insurance wouldn't cover, a drug that costs $102 a day, I asked if I could set up this page for anyone who wants to help with this and other medical expenses. Karen went ahead and purchased this drug today for one week: $711.72. Kinsey is expected to need it for at least 6 weeks. And the medical bills will keep coming.

Thank you in advance for Caring for Kinsey and supporting this effort in any way!