Please Help Support Kristi Updyke-Kaeff

Hi, My name is Kelli Huesman-Forman and I am starting a fundraiser to try and help my good friend and colleague Kristi Updyke-Kaeff, her husband Tom Kaeff and their daughter Taylor. This fundraiser is to hopefully offset expenses and give them a little peace of mind while Kristi undergoes treatment for Multiple Myeloma. Please take time to read her story below, and if you can offer any assistance, please consider it.

I have known Kristi since she and I met on our first day of Anatomy and Physiology class, where we became lab partners....and then trudged through PA school together and continuing our friendship over the last 20+ years. For anyone who knows Kristi, whether it be personally or professionally, you know she is the GIVER and the one to always want to make sure that her family, friends, and patients are well-taken care of. Well now is the time for us to show our support and do the same thing for this wonderful woman. She is facing a very tough battle over the next 6 months, and I am hoping we can try to ease some of this burden, even if just a little. Anything will help, and I know that they will both be forever grateful.

A little background on what has been happening over the last few years, for those who are not aware:

Kristy starting developing numbness in her feet about 15 years ago, and as it progressed, she was worked up and diagnosed with MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance). MGUS is a condition in which an abnormal protein (Monoclonal or M protein) is in the bloodstream. This protein is formed in your bone marrow, which is the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills the center of most of your bones. MGUS itself typically does not cause problems, BUT, it can progress to more serious diseases, including some forms of cancer. Kristi has been followed by an oncologist here in Dayton to monitor the levels of this protein with annual labs up until January of 2020.

In January of 2020, her levels started to rise, and Kristi underwent her first bone marrow biopsy, which unfortunately determined her MGUS had progressed to High Risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) with a specific genetic mutation. The first thing to grasp is this type of problem does not commonly occur in young, healthy caucasian females. So that added to her high risk and makes her situation that more puzzling. Due to these findings, it was suggested she be evaluated in the best know facility in the country for Multiple Myeloma, which is located at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She was officially confirmed with her SMM by UAMS in December of 2020. Unfortunately through monthly lab work over the last several months, it has shown a rapid progression of the disease. Due to this progression, Kristi and her providers have elected to proceed with a procedure called a Tandem Stem Cell Transplant, with the goal of stunting the progression and hopefully putting Kristi into remission. UAMS has been performing this procedure for MM patients for over 30 years, and has a very good success rate.

So what happens next:

Kristi officially started her first series of Chemotherapy (mild) on Monday 6/28/2021. This is a twelve-week regimen to hopefully starting destroying her current abnormal cells. She will then start the second round of High dose (full effect) Chemo in September. This second round of chemo is the preparation to undergo the stem cell harvesting process which will be in late September. The first stem cell transplant where her "cleaned" cells are given back to her, will then be initiated in late Fall, with the process lasting over two months. During this time frame from September to the end of her treatment (likely into 2022), Kristi and Tom will be required to travel back and forth to Arkansas. Due to her high risk of infections, she will need to do this all by driving (as flying adds too much risk of exposure to illnesses, that she will not be able to fight). This will require several 10+ hour car trips one way, weeks and weeks of staying in a hotel room, eating all their meals out, and being away from their families.

While both Kristi and Tom have had excellent support from their employers during this arduous journey and both have the intention of working as much remotely as possible, I know that the burden of missing work and the added expenses of their travel needs for Kristi to receive the best care, is adding to their stress. I am hopeful that with our many family, friends, and colleagues, we can try to share some of this burden. This will allow Kristi and Tom, so they can focus on her health and not have to worry about the "extra". Please consider supporting this wonderful family. Please also keep them in your prayers as they begin one of the most challenging times of their lives.

With my greatest respect and love, I appreciate each one of you who took the time to read this request.

Kelli Huesman-Forman