Hey Everyone! As many of you may or may not know, I have been going through cancer treatments since early 2020. I received a lifesaving stem cell transplant using cells that I received from my younger sister Katie. A known after effect of receiving the transplant is the development of Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). This GVHD has really caused a lot of problems with my body. Over the last three years, we have tried many different medication therapies to combat this disease to no avail. In recent months, I have been hit the hardest developing a thickening of the skin over most of my body. This has contributed to my mobility, and more importantly my breathing. This resulted in me being placed on oxygen to help maintaining my blood oxygen saturation a couple days ago.

Yesterday (1/10/24) I was seen by multiple doctors at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. During this visit, the doctors brainstormed on how to combat this fast developing and severe concern. Their consensus determined that I would need to undergo Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP). This treatment is similar in nature to dialysis. They will emplace a port under my skin for ease of access to my bloodstream. My blood will then be taken from my body, separate out the white cells, put the platelets and red cells back in, treat the white cells with UV light to kill the t-cells that are causing issues, and place the "cleaned" white cells back into my body. This process takes between 1.5 and 4 hours per session. I will have to do this twice a week for up to the next 18 months. It is highly likely that I will be able to schedule the treatments on back-to-back days, reducing the number of days that I have to drive the route from my house to Seattle. The Fred Hutch Cancer Center is 65 miles from my house in Yelm, WA, but travel often takes 2-3 hours each way.

If I am able to do the treatments on back-to-back days, lodging is what I need your help with. Cristina and I will use any money raised to pay for hotel and food while we are required to be away from home. Insurance does not cover these costs. This also takes Cristina and I away from work for two days, so we are also losing out on our wages for those days.

Anything helps, and please share this to everyone far and wide.

Much Love,

Bud, Cristina, Bradley, and Riley