On March 20, 2021, my brother Jeremy was seen by his primary care doctor for a persistent cough. During his visit, his doctor noticed swelling in his abdomen and recommended he be seen at the ER for further testing. After a few hours of testing, Jeremy was diagnosed with ADULT Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. An uncommon type of blood-cell cancer that begins in the bone marrow and is found very rarely in children.

Jeremy began treatment immediately after his diagnosis. Over the last few months, he has had back-to-back appointments that have included 10 spinal taps/bone marrow aspirations under anesthesia and several rounds of chemo and radiation. He will soon undergo a bone marrow transplant that will require him to stay at Children’s Hospital for the minimum of 4-6 weeks. 

There is not enough that I can say about my baby brother. At just 13 years old, he has amazed us all with his strength and wisdom. He is kind, loving, intelligent, HILARIOUS, and so smooth. As the youngest sibling, Jeremy’s personality stands the tallest! I dare to say that he is the coolest of us all. 

Since Jeremys diagnosis, my parents have been right by his side. My mother is a stay at home mom and my father is a subcontractor. With Jeremy's strict schedule, my father has not been able to commit to any jobs.   

I decided to organize this fundraiser to help support my parents and offset upcoming medical and home improvement costs as they focus on the continuing care of Jeremy. Once he is released from the hospital, Jeremy will need to come home to a completely sterile environment as his immune system fully recovers from the transplant. This means replacing carpet, cleaning air ducts and small home renovations to keep dust out and Jeremy safe. Jeremy will also need to be on medication that unfortunately is not covered by insurance.

I cannot express the gratitude Jeremy, my family and myself feel toward everyone who has reached out in support. Your phone calls, texts, and love have truly carried us all through this challenging time.

We are eternally grateful for the support we have received. It goes without saying that this has been the most difficult time in our lives, but we stand in grateful soil.