Help Karina through Bone Marrow Transplant
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Hi, my name is Lindi and I am fundraising for my sister in Christ, Karina Hernandez who is battling Myelofibrosis (MF) a rare bone marrow blood cancer.
Her family needs our help to get through this difficult time.
“Because of her, we all want to be better people”
Everyone that knows my sister Karina understands what it is to meet someone with a heart of pure gold that has always set aside everything in order to help people in need. Karina is a military wife, a mother of three amazing kids (Josiah 5, Karisa 7, and DJ 16), as well a PACU nurse at Brooks Army Medical Center. Back in 2017 Karina was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer (Myelofibrosis) while she was pregnant with her son Josiah. Since her diagnosis Karina has battled cancer with several different types of oral chemotherapy treatments that have helped slow down the progression of this uncurable disease. All the while she has been a stoic fighter of cancer and inspiration to many and has been able to accomplish her goal of becoming a registered nurse and was able to continue her goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner until her condition took a turn for the worst in June of 2022. Karina is now on her 3rd chemotherapy regimen (Vonjo) in 5 years and she is no longer being as receptive to the medications and her bone marrow cancer has progressed with a new IDH1 mutation now present in her bone marrow.
Since discovery of the IDH1 mutation in her bone marrow, her medical team has advised that her only cure is to undergo a bone marrow transplant procedure which is currently scheduled to happen in April. Upon receiving this devastating update her family has been urgently seeking a bone marrow donor through several national registries. They continue to pray that a perfect donor will be found and the medical team has indicated that a related half match may be her only chance for survival. See more of her story here:
Karina and the Hernandez Family
Karina is a native from El Paso, Tx and has been married to her husband Jesse for 13 years. She is a nurse at Brooks Army Medical Center and prior to that was a licensed cosmetologist. Whether it be caring for the sick or making people feel their absolute best while being a cosmetologist, Karina has always loved people and cared for people as if they were family. She has a beautiful singing voice, a servant’s heart and is very active in her church community. She loves singing with all of her children in the living room and is a huge Selena fan.
Karina’s husband Jesse is a Major in the U.S. Air Force and has served his country for over 23 years. Karina and Jesse are both blessed with the 3 most wonderful kids ever! She has 2 siblings and a huge circle of friends who lover her dearly. Karina has so much to live for and my hope is that we can help her and her family with their upcoming battle.
Challenges the Hernandez Family will Face
MD Anderson is 3 hours drive away from the Hernandez’s home in San Antonio where their three children go to school. The bone marrow transplant procedure and process that Karina will undergo will take anywhere from 4-5 months before Karina can be cleared to go home. After which she will not be able to work for up to a year. Karina will have to have a primary caregiver during her stay in Houston and her husband Jesse will be with her during her entire stay. Sadly their children will be in San Antonio without their Mommy and Daddy for the entire treatment process. Karina’s husband will have to financially manage a household in San Antonio and a 4-5 month minimum stay in Houston, TX. Given the extensive nature of Karina’s disease projected timeframes we don’t yet have a full picture of all the funds that will be needed to support her and her family throughout this time. However, based on discussions with her husband Jesse we have gathered an initial picture of all potential needs (current and future) and allowing the journey/battle to formalize day by day as the procedure occurs.
We will update this funding effort as necessary expenses become clearer or if something new needs to be added.
Funding will be allocated for the following items:
- Loss of salary for Karina – Karina will no longer be able to work for the foreseeable future in order for her to undergo the bone marrow transplant and allow her time to win the battle and properly heal. Her Husband Jesse will have to manage the logistical expenses with a household in San Antonio and costs associated with making sure their kids are taken care of while also providing and caring for himself and Karina in a living accommodations in Houston, TX. Once Karina is cleared to return to San Antonio she will remain on a leave of absence from work for an undetermined period of time in order to continue healing.
- Living Expenses – including groceries, bills, house cleaning, school tuition for all three kids, home mortgage payment, any emergency repairs that may occur at their main home in San Antonio.
- Local Apartment rental- MD Anderson requires that Karina & Jesse stay in the Houston Area during the 4-5 month bone marrow transplant process. Jesse will have to rent a local apartment close to MD Anderson so that Karina can make her daily treatment prior to and after transplant.
- Fuel/parking costs to and from MD Anderson – parking at the hospital is $15 daily and can easily add up during a 4-5 month stay
- Medication Costs- It was recently discovered that pharmacy at MD Anderson that supplies several of the medications that Karina will require after her transplant will not be covered by their insurance. These co-pay costs are currently unknown
- Miscellaneous / unknowns – TBD and added as details become clearer
With Gods favor, any excess funds that the Hernandez family does not utilize will be donated towards cancer research / support efforts.
Thank you so much for you help, praying daily that Karina and her family make it through this battle victorious!!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lindi Banda
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
Jesse Hernandez
Beneficiary
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