Jamie Carroll's CAR-T Cell Trial
Donation protected
Sadly, Cancer and I are not strangers. We have been intimate enemies over the past 10 years. In 2003 I was first diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma. A striking blow to a newly single mom of two children aged 5 and 11. I perservered through a tough chemotherapy, lost my hair. I soldiered on, all the while attending school full time so that I could get my teachers degree. Ultimately I was deemed cancer free.
I became an elementary fifth grade teacher and loved it. However three years later I was rediagnosed and received daily radiation. After a summer of treatment, I again was deemed cancer free.
I seem to never make it past the three year mark...the point of true cancer free success. It seems on that anniversary scan more traces of cancer are found. So it was in 2012. The cancer was back and we would watch and wait ...meaning not treating until it got bad enough to treat...which it did. In 2013 I qualified for a trial drug. I was the first person in the country on the drug and I was filled with hope. For a year I went in for weekly treatments and yes...I still taught through it all. I endured anemia and weekly high fevers over 103. After a year, the treatment was deemed ineffective (and honestly too difficult to continue). I had to stop.
And here I am now facing the biggest challenge of my journey. Today I begin another known chemotherapy. I am at stage 4 with tumors throughout my body and 80% bone marrow involvement. The plan is to reduce my tumor and bone marrow burden before I undergo a stemcell transplant.
A stemcell transplant is daunting to me in so many ways. I will need to leave the classroom. I will be hospitalized for months and in 24/7 care in home for a few more months. The cost of all this is nearly unthinkable. Projections are that it will cost nearly $250,000 of which I am responsible for 10% after insurance. That is still $25,000. After 10 years of treatments on a school teacher’s salary I have already mounted $20,000 in debt. And now this. It is more than I can imagine or bear. Which is why I am here on gofundme. I am hoping that through the generosity of friends and strangers, I can take the finacial worry off my plate and focus my energies on surviving the treatment and the days to come.
With sincere gratitude,
Jamie
I became an elementary fifth grade teacher and loved it. However three years later I was rediagnosed and received daily radiation. After a summer of treatment, I again was deemed cancer free.
I seem to never make it past the three year mark...the point of true cancer free success. It seems on that anniversary scan more traces of cancer are found. So it was in 2012. The cancer was back and we would watch and wait ...meaning not treating until it got bad enough to treat...which it did. In 2013 I qualified for a trial drug. I was the first person in the country on the drug and I was filled with hope. For a year I went in for weekly treatments and yes...I still taught through it all. I endured anemia and weekly high fevers over 103. After a year, the treatment was deemed ineffective (and honestly too difficult to continue). I had to stop.
And here I am now facing the biggest challenge of my journey. Today I begin another known chemotherapy. I am at stage 4 with tumors throughout my body and 80% bone marrow involvement. The plan is to reduce my tumor and bone marrow burden before I undergo a stemcell transplant.
A stemcell transplant is daunting to me in so many ways. I will need to leave the classroom. I will be hospitalized for months and in 24/7 care in home for a few more months. The cost of all this is nearly unthinkable. Projections are that it will cost nearly $250,000 of which I am responsible for 10% after insurance. That is still $25,000. After 10 years of treatments on a school teacher’s salary I have already mounted $20,000 in debt. And now this. It is more than I can imagine or bear. Which is why I am here on gofundme. I am hoping that through the generosity of friends and strangers, I can take the finacial worry off my plate and focus my energies on surviving the treatment and the days to come.
With sincere gratitude,
Jamie
Organizer
Jamie Carroll
Organizer
Littleton, CO