Help Lannie Fight Cancer and Save a Life
Donation protected
Dear Friends & Loved Ones,
In January of 2021, Lannie Loveday was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma – a rare and deadly form of cancer. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells that create abnormal proteins (antibodies), which are referred to as monoclonal proteins (M-protein). This leads to an overgrowth of plasma cells, leading to low blood counts, anemia, low levels of platelets, and leukopenia (shortage of white blood cells) which can lead to problems fighting infections. Multiple myeloma cells also interfere with cells that keep bones strong, resulting in the deterioration of bone. Myeloma cells also make antibody that can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney damage and even kidney failure.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for multiple myeloma. However, advances in therapy, such as autologous stem cell transplant, radiation, chemotherapy and surgical care in certain cases, have helped to lessen the occurrence and severity of adverse effects of this disease, and to manage associated complications and extend life expectancy significantly.
It is almost unheard of for someone as young as Lannie to be diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. It is most commonly found in people over 60, but the average age is 70. Only 2% of this extremely rare cancer occurs in people under 40. The doctors were shocked to have discovered this at her age (36).
Without treatment, Lannie’s life expectancy is unknown. The average life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients is four years. The bone lesions found across her back, shoulders, ribs and soft tissue mass near spine indicate Lannie has had it for some time. With the combination of treatments patients have lived between 10 to 20 years, which will allow Lannie to live and raise her family.
Lannie is about to embark on a long journey and needs your help to save her life so she can raise her 2-year-old daughter Melannie with her loving husband and help care for her disable mother.
Lannie was born in Orange County but has lived in San Diego since she was three. She graduated from La Jolla High School and has worked for local businessman and jeweler Leo Hamel for 14 years. She continues to work full time as she begins her treatments.
Lannie and Eric have been together for 15 years; married for 5 years. Eric is also born and raised San Diegan who attended University City High, graduated from SDSU magna cum laude, works as a professional photographer and cares for Lannie’s disabled Mother Patricia. This is an amazing San Diegan family that has been struck with tragedy. There are no words I could write here that can express what the family is going through.
Anyone who knows Lannie and Eric knows that you can ask their help and they would do whatever is in their power at the drop of a dime. So many of you have been touched by their kindness and generosity. Let’s overwhelm them with love because now they need our help!
Lannie’s Treatment Regimen that is about to begin consists of the following:
Radiation – targeted at mass near spine.
Revlimid (Lenalidomide) – taken 14 days than 7 days off (x4 cycles).
Velcade (Bortezomib) – injections taken once a week.
Decadron (Dexamethasone) – 10 pills taken once a week.
Zolendronic Acid – IV once a month. (Requires dental clearance prior to treatment).
Baby Asprin – Taken daily for anti-clotting
Lannie’s treatment is subject to change, as not every treatment regiment is successful as it may be with other multiple myeloma patients.
Each week, Lannie will be required to do blood work to check her white blood cells among other things. Once the four cycles of Revilimid are administered, then Lannie will begin the blood and marrow transplant where she will stay in the hospital for three to four weeks. Once the transplants are completed, she will be homebound for three to four weeks as she recovers. Lannie will then be under maintenance, which consists of small doses of Revlimid. Remission doesn’t last long and the process will repeat again. Remissions varies from patient to patient and could possible be a yearly treatment.
There is also an extensive and expensive fertility plan that is not covered by insurance. One of the key drugs (Revlimid) ensures she will never be able to have children after treatment.
The family does have health insurance but their share of costs is going to be tremendous and the family will not be able to work. They will need help at the home and for little Melannie among other things.
Anything you can donate will be so very appreciated. You are all in our thoughts and prayers for helping the Lovedays. We cannot thank you enough for helping.
Sincerely,
Aaron S.
In depth understanding of Multiple Myeloma:
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. The immune system is made of the several types of cells that work together to fight infections and other diseases. Lymphocytes (lymph cells) are one of the main types of white blood cells in the immune system and include T cells and B cells. When B cells respond to infection, they mature and change into plasma cells. Plasma cells make the antibodies that help the body attack and kill germs. Plasma cells are found mainly in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside bones. In addition to plasma cells, normal bone marrow is home for other blood cells such as red cells, white cells, and platelets.
In general, when plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, this is called multiple myeloma. The plasma cells make an abnormal protein (antibody) known by several different names, including monoclonal immunoglobulin, monoclonal protein (M-protein), M-spike, or paraprotein. In multiple myeloma, the overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow crowd out the normal blood-forming cells, leading to low blood counts. This can cause anemia and cause the level of platelets in the blood to become low which can lead to increased bleeding and bruising. It can also develop leukopenia (shortage of normal white blood cells), which can lead to problems fighting infections. Abnormal plasma cells cannot protect the body from infections. The myeloma cells crowd out the normal cells, so that antibodies to fight the infection can't be made.
Multiple myeloma cells also interfere with cells that keep bones strong. Bones are constantly being remade to keep them strong. Myeloma cells make a substance that tells the osteoclasts to speed up dissolving the bones. Simply, the old bone is broken down without new bones to replace it; making the bones weak and easy to break. Fractured bones are a major problem in myeloma patients. Myeloma cells also make an antibody that can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney damage and even kidney failure.
In January of 2021, Lannie Loveday was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma – a rare and deadly form of cancer. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells that create abnormal proteins (antibodies), which are referred to as monoclonal proteins (M-protein). This leads to an overgrowth of plasma cells, leading to low blood counts, anemia, low levels of platelets, and leukopenia (shortage of white blood cells) which can lead to problems fighting infections. Multiple myeloma cells also interfere with cells that keep bones strong, resulting in the deterioration of bone. Myeloma cells also make antibody that can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney damage and even kidney failure.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for multiple myeloma. However, advances in therapy, such as autologous stem cell transplant, radiation, chemotherapy and surgical care in certain cases, have helped to lessen the occurrence and severity of adverse effects of this disease, and to manage associated complications and extend life expectancy significantly.
It is almost unheard of for someone as young as Lannie to be diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. It is most commonly found in people over 60, but the average age is 70. Only 2% of this extremely rare cancer occurs in people under 40. The doctors were shocked to have discovered this at her age (36).
Without treatment, Lannie’s life expectancy is unknown. The average life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients is four years. The bone lesions found across her back, shoulders, ribs and soft tissue mass near spine indicate Lannie has had it for some time. With the combination of treatments patients have lived between 10 to 20 years, which will allow Lannie to live and raise her family.
Lannie is about to embark on a long journey and needs your help to save her life so she can raise her 2-year-old daughter Melannie with her loving husband and help care for her disable mother.
Lannie was born in Orange County but has lived in San Diego since she was three. She graduated from La Jolla High School and has worked for local businessman and jeweler Leo Hamel for 14 years. She continues to work full time as she begins her treatments.
Lannie and Eric have been together for 15 years; married for 5 years. Eric is also born and raised San Diegan who attended University City High, graduated from SDSU magna cum laude, works as a professional photographer and cares for Lannie’s disabled Mother Patricia. This is an amazing San Diegan family that has been struck with tragedy. There are no words I could write here that can express what the family is going through.
Anyone who knows Lannie and Eric knows that you can ask their help and they would do whatever is in their power at the drop of a dime. So many of you have been touched by their kindness and generosity. Let’s overwhelm them with love because now they need our help!
Lannie’s Treatment Regimen that is about to begin consists of the following:
Radiation – targeted at mass near spine.
Revlimid (Lenalidomide) – taken 14 days than 7 days off (x4 cycles).
Velcade (Bortezomib) – injections taken once a week.
Decadron (Dexamethasone) – 10 pills taken once a week.
Zolendronic Acid – IV once a month. (Requires dental clearance prior to treatment).
Baby Asprin – Taken daily for anti-clotting
Lannie’s treatment is subject to change, as not every treatment regiment is successful as it may be with other multiple myeloma patients.
Each week, Lannie will be required to do blood work to check her white blood cells among other things. Once the four cycles of Revilimid are administered, then Lannie will begin the blood and marrow transplant where she will stay in the hospital for three to four weeks. Once the transplants are completed, she will be homebound for three to four weeks as she recovers. Lannie will then be under maintenance, which consists of small doses of Revlimid. Remission doesn’t last long and the process will repeat again. Remissions varies from patient to patient and could possible be a yearly treatment.
There is also an extensive and expensive fertility plan that is not covered by insurance. One of the key drugs (Revlimid) ensures she will never be able to have children after treatment.
The family does have health insurance but their share of costs is going to be tremendous and the family will not be able to work. They will need help at the home and for little Melannie among other things.
Anything you can donate will be so very appreciated. You are all in our thoughts and prayers for helping the Lovedays. We cannot thank you enough for helping.
Sincerely,
Aaron S.
In depth understanding of Multiple Myeloma:
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. Normal plasma cells are found in bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system. The immune system is made of the several types of cells that work together to fight infections and other diseases. Lymphocytes (lymph cells) are one of the main types of white blood cells in the immune system and include T cells and B cells. When B cells respond to infection, they mature and change into plasma cells. Plasma cells make the antibodies that help the body attack and kill germs. Plasma cells are found mainly in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside bones. In addition to plasma cells, normal bone marrow is home for other blood cells such as red cells, white cells, and platelets.
In general, when plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control, this is called multiple myeloma. The plasma cells make an abnormal protein (antibody) known by several different names, including monoclonal immunoglobulin, monoclonal protein (M-protein), M-spike, or paraprotein. In multiple myeloma, the overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow crowd out the normal blood-forming cells, leading to low blood counts. This can cause anemia and cause the level of platelets in the blood to become low which can lead to increased bleeding and bruising. It can also develop leukopenia (shortage of normal white blood cells), which can lead to problems fighting infections. Abnormal plasma cells cannot protect the body from infections. The myeloma cells crowd out the normal cells, so that antibodies to fight the infection can't be made.
Multiple myeloma cells also interfere with cells that keep bones strong. Bones are constantly being remade to keep them strong. Myeloma cells make a substance that tells the osteoclasts to speed up dissolving the bones. Simply, the old bone is broken down without new bones to replace it; making the bones weak and easy to break. Fractured bones are a major problem in myeloma patients. Myeloma cells also make an antibody that can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney damage and even kidney failure.
Organiser and beneficiary
Aaron Salomon
Organiser
San Diego, CA
Eric Loveday
Beneficiary
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