Help Jean Marie Fight Acute Myeloid Leukemia

My dearest friend, our treasured colleague, most devoted teacher and brilliant artist, Jean Marie Casbarian, has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). We, her family, friends, colleagues and students, are asking you to help us raise $110,000. Funds are needed to cover the cost of medicine, special transportation to and from Memorial Sloan Kettering, living expenses, including rent, utility bills, food, caregivers, and any other unforeseen expenses that may arise over the next 5 years.

Just as Spring was beginning to unfold, Jean Marie’s primary care doctor noticed some anomalies in several routine blood tests. After consultations with her hematologist, a bone marrow biopsy, and further specialized testing with a Leukemia specialist at Weill Cornell in New York City, she was diagnosed in late August with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and told she needed to begin treatment immediately. Without treatment, her prognosis is dire.

Jean Marie began treatment at Weill Cornell on Thursday, September 1st. She will undergo extensive chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering on March 17, 2023, leaving her hospitalized for at least one month and under 24/7 care for a minimum of 100 days. This procedure will leave her severely immunocompromised and physically depleted.

This news was received at the very moment she was preparing to move to Northampton, Massachusetts, for her Visiting Professorship at Hampshire College. However, her doctor strongly recommended that she remain in Jackson Heights, NY, because her health very much depends on her community (us) carrying and supporting her through this critical phase of her life.

She is heartbroken to miss the opportunity to be teaching at Hampshire. Losing a large part of her income is devastating, and she needs help to maintain financial stability.

Jean Marie is encouraged (and humbled) by the outpouring of emotional support that she has received from her daughter, her doctors, her family and friends, and her network of students and colleagues worldwide. She has poured her heart into her teaching and studio, enriching the lives and practices of thousands of students, fellow artists, colleagues and patrons. Now it’s time for us to give back and support her through this very challenging time. 

She is ready to work with the doctors to fight AML.