Hi! First I want to thank you for simply visiting my page. That means you are intersted in my story, so here it is.

I was first diagnosed with Hodgkins Lympoma in February 2011. I was told I was "lucky" that I had gotten the easy cancer.  The odds were ever in my favor!  Or so I thought.  After not fully responding to frontline treatment I was on my way to stem cell transplant, which promptly failed. I could go on for pages about what has transpired over the past four years, but here is neither the time nor place for all of that. Is a nutshell, I currently have stage 4 Refractory Hodgkins Lymphoma which has metastesized into my lungs and my bones.  I have indured 18 rounds of chemotherapy, 2 rounds of radiation, and 2 stem cell transplants. To date my longest remission has been 8 months short.  I have been through every large cancer center in Arizona, and even traveled to Houston TX, all of which have eventually told me there is nothing more that can be done for me. In spite of this I searched the internet and found the Countries best Lymphoma Specialist. The good news about this is he can help me. He believes that he can keep my disease stable enough to get me through until some new clinical trials open up at his practice. The bad news....... He is in NY, NY, which, as many of you know, is a cross country haul for me.  This is where you all come in. I currently fly to New York every 2 to 3 months, but this is soon to change. Once a good trial comes out that I am eligible for I need to take the opportunity while I can.  At the beginning of a trial I must be able to come to his office on a weekly basis for the first few months. If all goes well visits will gradually decrease over time. This is going to create an overwhelming expense, one that I am afraid my family and I cannot carry the burden of on our own.  We are also facing the possibility that insurance may not pay for these treatments. They are experimental therefore not yet approved by the FDA. I have never been one to easily ask for help, even when I need it.  However, I have come to realize that I would not be here if it weren't for the support and help that I have received from family and friends, and even the occasional stranger.  I can't do this on my own, and I need help now more than ever.  Any thing you can give will help. $1 or $100, it does not matter.  This is my final shot at beating this horrible disease once and for all.

All of my love and gratitude,
Lori