Help Mel with Medical Exoense

In October of 2022 what started as routine doctor visit and labs became a journey we did not expect. A few days after my doc visit I got a call that I needed to go to oncology in Oklahoma City right away. My labs came back very elevated and my doc felt I needed a specialist to look further into everything. We began making trips to Oklahoma City which is about 2 and a half hours one way from our home to the oncology department at St Anthony’s hospital. After a year of tests, X-rays, biopsy, ct scans and many many blood lab tests we learned that I have a rare blood cancer. It is called polycythemia Vera and currently there is no cure. We have tried chemotherapy which my body rejected, immunotherapy which has been on-going and has not allowed me to be in public environments with a lot of people and which has not improved my symptoms. My oncology appointments have consisted of hematology where they take quite a bit of blood that cannot be donated due to the cancer to try to bring my numbers down. The hematology has not reduced my numbers down enough keep me in a safe zone with my body. There are many risks with this cancer and I take each day as God has given me with much grace and thankfulness. This blood cancer has a potential of causing blood clots and failing organs due to large blood cells not being able to pass through normally. It can also lead to Leukemia eventually. Most days I’m in quite a bit of pain and very exhausted. My husband has taken time off from work to help me with my health & work and he is due to go back to work June 3rd. My oncologist wants me to start on a newly approved FDA drug that is made specifically for my condition. It is weekly injections and they are very expensive. Our insurance will only cover 40 percent of the injections. So here I am with my heart in my hand asking friends and family for first your prayers and secondly as I am so hesitant to ask , for donations to go towards the part of the cost for these injections in hopes for a better life for myself and my family. I have always been one of the first to give when asked and have always been there when people, friends and family needed me. If you cannot donate I understand, times are tough for everyone, but may I ask you to please pray for me to be able to get these injections so that I may be able to prolong my life and continue to help others in need when I can. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. I would never ask for help unless it was really needed and at this time in my life it is. God bless each and every one of you who have read my story.