Help Vonda Kick Cancer's Ass!

If you know Vonda, you know she is one tough, strong woman! She started off 2020 getting ready to begin a new journey in a DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) program that she worked so hard to get into. Then, well, 2020 happened. On top of everything else that 2020 has brought, Vonda was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive blood cancer after quitting her job in preparation for her new DPT program. She is completely gutted. The kind of cancer that Vonda has is going to require chemo and a bone marrow transplant. She just started chemo here in Asheville in preparation for the transplant, then she will have to move to Durham for 3 months to get the treatment at Duke. Without treatment, Vonda would only have 2-3 years left but with treatment, she has a chance for full recovery and be able to live a full life!



The type of cancer that Vonda has is called Myelodysplastic Syndrome , this is a disorder caused by poorly formed blood cells or ones that don't work properly. In a healthy person, bone marrow makes new immature red blood cells that mature over time. If you have this disorder, something disrupts this process and the blood cells die in the bone marrow or right after entering the blood stream. Treatment for this disorder, in Vonda's case, will have to include chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. This is very expensive! As you may or may not know, the cost of a bone marrow transplant is one of the most expensive procedures. The cost averages around $300,000 per procedure. This does not include the chemotherapy costs and well as all other costs associated with her treatment (including but not limited to: not working, living expenses while in Durham for treatment, chemotherapy, regular life bills).

Not only does Vonda have to go through chemo, pay to stay in Durham for 3 months for the transplant, live all of this through COVID-19 but she also has to be able to find a donor that is a match! Use this website to register to be a donor. 

Here are a few words from Vonda on how she is feeling, "I easily go from "ok" to full-on ugly tears. It's hard to even express the depth of sadness and disbelief at times. It's going to be a hell of a hard fight...I imagine something between a medieval war and a street fight but I'm going all in. I'm planning to do my damnedest to punch cancer in the d*CK. Fortunately, some have reminded me I'm always fond of the struggle, go after challenges, stubborn and can be mean as a snake if I want to be.
However, I DO NOT WANT SYMPATHY! Accepting any and all positive thoughts, prayers, sage burning/smudging, success dancing, and all around kick ass mojo (and funny dog videos).

Don't waste time folks, go live...like right now...I'm young, otherwise healthy and have always been an athlete or active, and yet here we are." 

Vonda is so strong but this all just happened and it is important that we act quickly. We all love Vonda so much, please consider giving what you can to help her win this fight! Anything helps!