My sister, Nory Leachon, urgently needs help for her medical needs and aftercare.

Nory has been battling a blood abnormality for 9 years called Essential Thrombocythemia which then progressed to Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. It is a rare, potentially life-threatening blood cancer that happens when your bone marrow makes too many blood cells. This condition has caused her blood platelets to go up to the millions even with daily oral chemo medication. Her bone marrow produced too many that in May of 2020 she had to be airlifted from New Hampshire to Boston because she was bleeding in her lower spine.

None of our family members could be there with her because of the pandemic.

Growing up, Nory was the more athletic one among my siblings and me. She played volleyball, basketball, tennis and swims. She continued being active through adulthood. But when this disease got her, she became very lethargic. She would have bruises and nose bleeds all of a sudden. The disease was taking my sister away from us. Nory had to stop being a pastor and find another job that is less demanding of her time. The daily chemo pills did not help.

Last December 2023, her oncologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center has determined that the best course of action is for a bone marrow transplant before her condition worsens. Before the transplant can be done, Nory will have to undergo a chemotherapy conditioning regimen. Her doctors made it clear that this is an urgent situation — her condition is not getting better and the procedure needs to be done sooner than later.

While she was disheartened by this, our family knows that her faith is keeping her strong to fight this diagnosis. Those that knew her as their pastor will agree that she believes God will always provide. I am sure that her friends and colleagues have witnessed how she struggled with her medical condition physically but still managed to show up high spirited.

Because of the long term treatment and rehabilitation, Nory will not be able to work and sustain the finances needed. During the chemotherapy, she will have to be in the hospital for a month. Her medical team requires her to be within 30 minutes away from the hospital for close monitoring after the transplant procedure. This means she will then have to relocate to Houston, TX and need 24/7 care.

Thankfully, we have been blessed that I am a match for the bone marrow transplant. However, I am the only member of our family with Nory here in the States.

I have started this fundraising for my sister because I know we need more help to be able to sustain the months that she is away from work and rehabilitating. I do not want to burden her even more, worrying about where she would get the funds after her treatment. I want my sister to focus on getting better and living the life that God has intended for her.

Specifically, we need help in raising funds to cover the following for now:

Board and care in Houston, TX from May to September 2024, which we estimated the minimum cost of $40,000 — She needs a full-time caregiver and needs to find a place that will be suitable for her rehabilitation from post transplant treatment.

Please share my sister's story to your friends and family, we will never know how big the ripple effect will be. Thank you for taking the time to read, share and donate. Any amount will be very much appreciated.

Nory would like to share with everyone her life verse from Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Thank you!