Aloha!

My name is Justice-Kamalei Lord. I am from the Big Island of Hawaii (currently living in Las Vegas, NV).

On May 11, 2025, I was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow that causes abnormal cells to overgrow, crowd out healthy blood cells, and produce faulty antibodies known as M protein.

What I initially thought was an irritated sciatic nerve causing pain in my right hip and leg turned out to be a large plasmacytoma (tumor) in my right pelvis. After numerous tests, I learned that the cancer had spread down my right femur and into my knee. Because the tumor was positioned above my hip joint and also in my knee, I was in severe pain and unable to walk on my own for about three months. The tumor grew so large that it destroyed nearly 50% of the right side of my pelvis.

Thankfully, I was able to begin treatment immediately here in Las Vegas at the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada (CCCN). I am incredibly grateful to say that the treatments were effective in killing the cancer cells, shrinking the tumor, and allowing me to walk independently again. I am deeply thankful for the radiology and oncology teams at CCCN for the exceptional care they provided.

In August 2025, I traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, for a second opinion and to explore treatment options to prevent the cancer from returning. While there is currently no guaranteed cure for multiple myeloma, the team advised that a stem cell transplant would be the best course of treatment for me. They also reassured me that, at my age, my chances of reaching remission are very high.

Now that I have completed the required treatment cycles at CCCN, the Mayo Clinic has confirmed that I am eligible for the transplant. I will be heading to Phoenix on January 12, 2026, to begin the 8-week transplant process.

If you’ve ever heard of a stem cell transplant, you know they are not cheap. Between taking time off work, traveling to another state, and spending eight weeks away from home, the costs add up quickly. I have created this GoFundMe to help cover these expenses. If you are able to donate, I sincerely thank you. If not, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share my link.

Mahalo for your time!