Cassie's Recovery from Leukemia
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My name is Bonnie Schwartz
On November 27, 2020, my daughter, Cassandra Shultz was admitted to our local hospital. She was suffering from major fatigue. She decided to admit herself into the emergency room because after she climbed a set of stairs her heart started to race and she felt clammy. She told me, "I thought I had a heart attack my heart was beating so fast I thought my ear drums were going to burst".
The hospital determined that she did not suffer a heart attack, just that she had extremely low blood levels. Hemoglobin levels at admission was 4.7. (Average hemoglobin levels are between 12-16). The ER doctor determined that she had leukemia but needed a bone marrow biopsy for confirmation. She was taken straight to the cancer floor and left in shock and in the dark for the entire weekend. After several blood transfusions, 8 during her entire hospital stay, they were able to perform the biopsy the 30th. She was officially diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia that following Wednesday.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid restrictions, nobody, including me and her children, was able to be with her when she received this news and haven't been able to be there for her during any of her ongoing treatments. After receiving her diagnosis she then received multiple IV chemotherapy treatments, oral chemotherapy, and other stabilizing treatments and medications. With all the extra effort the hospital, doctors, and outpatient staff did, she was released on December 22nd. Just in time to spend Christmas with her family.
Although she is still undergoing treatment, Cassandra is a strong single mother and has since returned to work. Her insurance and various grants have helped with some expenses; it is unfortunately not enough. Increasing expenses for her are now more than could ever have been predicted. Things such as medical expenses, (her IV treatments, oral medications, transportation, and time off of work for the IV infusions), have made her financial burden much more difficult than was previously imagined.
Any help or prayers are welcome and greatly appreciated.
The IV chemotherapy treatments are scheduled to continue until September, when at that time the doctors will perform another biopsy to determine the status of her cancer. We will be providing updates. Thank you all for caring. God bless you all.
On November 27, 2020, my daughter, Cassandra Shultz was admitted to our local hospital. She was suffering from major fatigue. She decided to admit herself into the emergency room because after she climbed a set of stairs her heart started to race and she felt clammy. She told me, "I thought I had a heart attack my heart was beating so fast I thought my ear drums were going to burst".
The hospital determined that she did not suffer a heart attack, just that she had extremely low blood levels. Hemoglobin levels at admission was 4.7. (Average hemoglobin levels are between 12-16). The ER doctor determined that she had leukemia but needed a bone marrow biopsy for confirmation. She was taken straight to the cancer floor and left in shock and in the dark for the entire weekend. After several blood transfusions, 8 during her entire hospital stay, they were able to perform the biopsy the 30th. She was officially diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia that following Wednesday.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid restrictions, nobody, including me and her children, was able to be with her when she received this news and haven't been able to be there for her during any of her ongoing treatments. After receiving her diagnosis she then received multiple IV chemotherapy treatments, oral chemotherapy, and other stabilizing treatments and medications. With all the extra effort the hospital, doctors, and outpatient staff did, she was released on December 22nd. Just in time to spend Christmas with her family.
Although she is still undergoing treatment, Cassandra is a strong single mother and has since returned to work. Her insurance and various grants have helped with some expenses; it is unfortunately not enough. Increasing expenses for her are now more than could ever have been predicted. Things such as medical expenses, (her IV treatments, oral medications, transportation, and time off of work for the IV infusions), have made her financial burden much more difficult than was previously imagined.
Any help or prayers are welcome and greatly appreciated.
The IV chemotherapy treatments are scheduled to continue until September, when at that time the doctors will perform another biopsy to determine the status of her cancer. We will be providing updates. Thank you all for caring. God bless you all.
Organizer
Cassandra Shultz
Organizer
Traverse City, MI