Julie needs our help and she needs it now. She is battling AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) and while I'll let her explain what is happening in her own words below, I wanted to take a moment to share with those who don't know her what a fabulous person Julie is. I have known her over 25 years, and can think of few people who are as vibrant, caring and overall as fabulous as she is. Julie is a single mom to two teenage daughters, an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University and co-founded with me Next Chapter , a nonprofit that provides home goods and furnishings to people exiting homelessness. Unfortunately, Julie was laid-off of her full-time job (by no fault of her own) a few months prior to diagnosis. She was relentless in looking for a job, but then had to stop for her treatments. She has exhausted FMLA and has applied for disability, but that process takes quite awhile. It is the perfect storm of circumstances beyond her control that ultimately means she is currently without any income beyond teaching one class at GU. It seems all too unfair. Those who have worked with Julie in the past or are lucky enough to have her as a friend will tell you that she maintains a stellar work ethic, that she goes out of her way to help others regularly and is one of the kindest people you will ever meet.

And like I said, she needs us now. From Julie:

My Fight Isn’t Over — I Need Your Help to Reach the Care That Could Save My Life

As this new year begins, so do new developments in my battle with leukemia (AML) and the rare condition in my illness. I recently learned that I can no longer continue treatment at Fred Hutch due to complications and risks unique to my case. My doctors and I are still fighting for a path forward, and they are recommending that I seek care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the top leukemia hospital in the country. They have two clinical trials that offer my best chance at becoming eligible for the bone marrow transplant that is critical for my survival. Without the transplant, my prognosis is not favorable. Time is of the essence. My disease progresses daily and I don’t have time to spare or wait for treatment.

The antibodies in my blood and the extent of my disease make a transplant at Fred Hutch too dangerous. The risk of failure—or of developing a severe, life-altering case of Graft vs. Host Disease—is simply too high. MD Anderson represents my strongest and most realistic chance at survival.

But there is a devastating barrier: MD Anderson does not accept ACA marketplace insurance, which is what I have. This means the treatment I need would not be covered. The only way forward for me is to pay cash for my treatment while there. I am exploring every possible option, but the costs will be significant, and I cannot do this alone. I have to raise enough funding to get to MD Anderson in order to save my life.

I am humbly asking for help.

I want to live—for my girls, for my family, for my friends, for my students, and for the community I serve through my nonprofit. I want to keep teaching, keep giving back, and keep being present for the people I love. I have applied for financial assistance through Fred Hutch, the state, and Social Security, but those processes take time, and my medical expenses—both current and upcoming—cannot wait.

Your support will help me access the care that could save my life. Every donation, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to the treatment I need and the future I’m fighting for.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with me in this fight.