Help David fight Multiple Myeloma!
Donation protected
As our family & friends know, my husband David was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer) in February 26, 2013. It was 7 days before his 43rd birthday. At the time of his diagnosis he had nearly 40% infiltration of Myeloma in his marrow. He received 3 months of chemo followed by a stem cell transplant at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His transplant Oncologist told us that the life expectancy for Myeloma with treatment is 7-8 years. He also said that if he stayed in "remission"for 1 year post transplant, those statistics improved. He was in "remission" for almost 3 years to the day. If you know David, you know he's a fighter!
We found out in February that the cancer was increasing in his marrow again, and he would need another stem cell transplant. David has spent the last 3 months receiving chemo twice a week to prepare his body for the transplant. He starts his pre-transplant evaluations at UF on Sept 21st. He'll then be admitted to the cancer hospital in Gainesville on October 11th. If everything goes as planned, his transplant will be on October 14th.
Last time David went through all of this, I was not working and could be with him. This time around I have to continue to work. Although I have been approved for FMLA, I do not have enough PTO saved to be paid my salary while I'm away with David in Gainesville. I've been told I am only eligible for PTO donations if I convert my FMLA to "block" - which means I will be out of work the entire time - instead of intermittently. If I do not receive enough donations to cover my time away, I won't be paid. With all of the mounting medical bills again, we cannot afford for me to take the time off unpaid.
After talking it over with David, we decided it would be best for me to stay in Jacksonville and go to Gainesville on the weekends. David's mother is elderly and has cancer as well, so we have to rely on my 72 year old mother to take David to his pre-evaluation appointments and to stay with him in Gainesville after he's released. With his transplant on the horizon now, the thought of being separated from while David is going through his transplant is causing both of us a great deal of stress. A co-worker suggested I set up a Go-Fund Me account. I am reluctant to utilize it again, but it would allow us to be together. We appreciate all the love, support and prayers we've had over the last 3 years! Please keep those prayers coming. David needs all he can get!!
Much love & many thanks,
~Cheryl
To sign up for the bone marrow registry, please visit
www.bethematch.org. If David needs a 3rd stem cell transplant, he will need a match from the registry. You could be his match! Even if you don't match with him, you could save someone else's life. How awesome is that?!!
To learn more about Multiple Myeloma -
International Myeloma Foundation: http://myeloma.org/Main.action
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation:
http://www.themmrf.org/
We found out in February that the cancer was increasing in his marrow again, and he would need another stem cell transplant. David has spent the last 3 months receiving chemo twice a week to prepare his body for the transplant. He starts his pre-transplant evaluations at UF on Sept 21st. He'll then be admitted to the cancer hospital in Gainesville on October 11th. If everything goes as planned, his transplant will be on October 14th.
Last time David went through all of this, I was not working and could be with him. This time around I have to continue to work. Although I have been approved for FMLA, I do not have enough PTO saved to be paid my salary while I'm away with David in Gainesville. I've been told I am only eligible for PTO donations if I convert my FMLA to "block" - which means I will be out of work the entire time - instead of intermittently. If I do not receive enough donations to cover my time away, I won't be paid. With all of the mounting medical bills again, we cannot afford for me to take the time off unpaid.
After talking it over with David, we decided it would be best for me to stay in Jacksonville and go to Gainesville on the weekends. David's mother is elderly and has cancer as well, so we have to rely on my 72 year old mother to take David to his pre-evaluation appointments and to stay with him in Gainesville after he's released. With his transplant on the horizon now, the thought of being separated from while David is going through his transplant is causing both of us a great deal of stress. A co-worker suggested I set up a Go-Fund Me account. I am reluctant to utilize it again, but it would allow us to be together. We appreciate all the love, support and prayers we've had over the last 3 years! Please keep those prayers coming. David needs all he can get!!
Much love & many thanks,
~Cheryl
To sign up for the bone marrow registry, please visit
www.bethematch.org. If David needs a 3rd stem cell transplant, he will need a match from the registry. You could be his match! Even if you don't match with him, you could save someone else's life. How awesome is that?!!
To learn more about Multiple Myeloma -
International Myeloma Foundation: http://myeloma.org/Main.action
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation:
http://www.themmrf.org/
Organizer
Cheryl Duffy Vermillion
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL
