Hi, my name is Angela and I'm creating this fundraiser for my younger brother!

At just 26 years old, Chris' world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia.

If you are lucky enough to know my brother, you know that he is the warmest, most genuine person. He is both the smartest and silliest/funniest person I've ever known. He is not just my brother, but my very best friend and such a light in my life and everyone else's lives around him. Even through his cancer treatment, he has managed to stay his goofy self- pulling pranks on his nurses, cracking cancer jokes at every opportunity, and using his energy to make those around him smile.

Chris had just finished earning his Master's degree and was living with me in Hawai'i, a dream come true, when he suddenly began having some serious health concerns. He was experiencing extreme difficulty breathing, noticing nodules growing on his body, and developing severe joint pain. It all happened so suddenly! He went to hospitals and numerous doctors here in Hawai'i in a fearful attempt to find out what was happening to him. Many doctors visits and hospital stays later, a biopsy result came back, letting us know the scary, unexpected truth.

Chris flew back to the mainland to work with the best doctors he could to receive and official diagnosis. It was in New York that he was officially diagnosed with Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia.

In order to beat his cancer, Chris has already had to undergo many medical procedures and this battle isn't over yet! He has already spent a month admitted to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center undergoing chemotherapy treatment. He is currently receiving radiation treatment before he will need to be readmitted to the hospital for a bone marrow transplant.

These procedures are necessary in helping him beat this leukemia, but they are extensive, prolonged, and expensive. My brother, my family, and I are only thinking about his life and his future. We would do anything that we can to help Chris beat his cancer and heal. That is why he is receiving the best care that he can at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but we know that his treatment is going to be very costly.

I cannot wait for my brother to be cancer free and healthy, but I do not want his future remission to be overshadowed by thousands and thousands of dollars in medical debt. I am not sure what his procedures will cost, but I know they will be much more than we can afford. Not only will his procedures themselves be expensive, but Chris' doctors have advised that he should not go back to working until a year after his bone marrow transplant. Not only will he have plenty of bills coming his way, but he will not have a form of income for over a year.

If you can, please consider donating to give Chris some of the funds that he will need to cover his life-saving treatments. I want my brother to beat leukemia's ass and not need to stress or worry about the aftermath of his financial situation.

Any amount will help towards the many medical bills and living expenses in his future. Sharing will also be a huge help to find as many people as possible who are willing to help!

You can also help all leukemia patients by taking the time to sign up on the bone marrow registry at bethematch.org

Thank you so much for your time and generosity! I appreciate you all.