
Jamie Coley: Leukemia & Infertility
Donation protected
One of my dearest friends, Jamie, has always wanted to be a mother. I remember when all of us were getting retail & fast food jobs in high school, she had already been a Nanny to a teeny babe for years. Even now, in a room of adults - she gravitates to the children - loving on them, truly having conversations with & playing with them. It’s written in to her DNA - and to fulfill that desire would truly fulfill her calling.
When her & Michael were married, she was excited to grow their family - to finally make her dream of motherhood come to fruition. But, like a lot of ladies - she’s had trouble- even having multiple miscarriages. Then this year, she was diagnosed with leukemia and has been going through a rigorous treatment regimen. As you can imagine, putting poison that can kill you inside your body to save you takes its toll on your systems. And more so, her doctors are now encouraging her to further her attack on the cancer by having a bone marrow transplant to ensure complete healing from relapse. Unfortunately, this procedure will further complicate her fertility by instantly cutting the odds of motherhood in half.
WHEN Jamie beats this disease, when her body is healed completely, when her & Michael are able to return to life without worrying of cancer - her greatest desire would be to have the option of carrying their baby - via harvesting & freezing her eggs before tackling this next round of treatment. Unfortunately due to the aggressive form of leukemia she has, her and her doctors must continue acting fast. They’re planning on harvesting and then freezing the embryos all within the month of July so she can continue with the bone marrow transplant at the end of August.
I remember back on my own journey with cancer, caring for my Daddy (who loved Jamie & Jamie loved in return - they were a mess together) - people would say “please let us know if there’s anything that we can do”... which is precious. And I know was always meant in good favor. But when you’re in the throes of truly fighting for your or your loved one’s life, there’s overwhelming needs that either only those closest to them can fulfill OR there’s truly no time to even ask OR we simply feel awkward & uncomfortable calling on those wanting to help...
As you can imagine, cancer & fertility treatments are expensive. Time off of work is expensive. Copays are expensive. Bills that don’t know you aren’t working while fighting for your life are expensive. Gas to travel to doctors appointments is expensive. Snacks to buy when only that one food sounds appeasing when your mouth tastes like pennies from treatment are expensive...
If you’d offer to give them a $10 gas gift card or bring them supper or cut their grass or whatever during this time - consider converting that offer to a monetary value & donating here. Because THIS is a real & raw & true need. A way that you can truly impact their lives during this hectic & heartbreaking season. Any amount of money - seriously, $1, $3, $5 & so on - has the power to impact their journey. Time is of the essence and they’ve unfortunately not been blessed with much time to raise money for this procedure or the medication. The initial costs appear to be upwards of $8000... but that doesn’t include the process of implanting them once her body is capable of proceeding with IVF.
It’s hard to be vulnerable, ESPECIALLY when you’re already wounded. Please continue to pray for Jamie, Michael, her parents, brother, sister-in-law, nieces & nephew as they navigate this disease & treatment. And also for her doctors to continue to make the wisest decisions in her care.
When her & Michael were married, she was excited to grow their family - to finally make her dream of motherhood come to fruition. But, like a lot of ladies - she’s had trouble- even having multiple miscarriages. Then this year, she was diagnosed with leukemia and has been going through a rigorous treatment regimen. As you can imagine, putting poison that can kill you inside your body to save you takes its toll on your systems. And more so, her doctors are now encouraging her to further her attack on the cancer by having a bone marrow transplant to ensure complete healing from relapse. Unfortunately, this procedure will further complicate her fertility by instantly cutting the odds of motherhood in half.
WHEN Jamie beats this disease, when her body is healed completely, when her & Michael are able to return to life without worrying of cancer - her greatest desire would be to have the option of carrying their baby - via harvesting & freezing her eggs before tackling this next round of treatment. Unfortunately due to the aggressive form of leukemia she has, her and her doctors must continue acting fast. They’re planning on harvesting and then freezing the embryos all within the month of July so she can continue with the bone marrow transplant at the end of August.
I remember back on my own journey with cancer, caring for my Daddy (who loved Jamie & Jamie loved in return - they were a mess together) - people would say “please let us know if there’s anything that we can do”... which is precious. And I know was always meant in good favor. But when you’re in the throes of truly fighting for your or your loved one’s life, there’s overwhelming needs that either only those closest to them can fulfill OR there’s truly no time to even ask OR we simply feel awkward & uncomfortable calling on those wanting to help...
As you can imagine, cancer & fertility treatments are expensive. Time off of work is expensive. Copays are expensive. Bills that don’t know you aren’t working while fighting for your life are expensive. Gas to travel to doctors appointments is expensive. Snacks to buy when only that one food sounds appeasing when your mouth tastes like pennies from treatment are expensive...
If you’d offer to give them a $10 gas gift card or bring them supper or cut their grass or whatever during this time - consider converting that offer to a monetary value & donating here. Because THIS is a real & raw & true need. A way that you can truly impact their lives during this hectic & heartbreaking season. Any amount of money - seriously, $1, $3, $5 & so on - has the power to impact their journey. Time is of the essence and they’ve unfortunately not been blessed with much time to raise money for this procedure or the medication. The initial costs appear to be upwards of $8000... but that doesn’t include the process of implanting them once her body is capable of proceeding with IVF.
It’s hard to be vulnerable, ESPECIALLY when you’re already wounded. Please continue to pray for Jamie, Michael, her parents, brother, sister-in-law, nieces & nephew as they navigate this disease & treatment. And also for her doctors to continue to make the wisest decisions in her care.
Organizer
Jamie Coley
Organizer
Madison, AL