Lisa Brandt Bone Marrow Transplant Fund
Donation protected
Lisa Brandt knows adversity more than most.
She’s a longtime CrossFit athlete, an 18-year Chesapeake firefighter/paramedic, a former Desert Storm Air Force Reservist, and a three-year colon cancer survivor.
“Fear consists of two meanings... Forget everything and run, or face everything and rise.”
Rising up is something Lisa is used to.
When she was confronted with cancer, she harnessed that new-found strength to beat it.
For the last three years, things have been looking up. She was cancer-free, enjoying a family of close friends, and thriving in the job she loves.
But on June 25, she learned another fight is ahead.
Lisa was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria paired with aplastic anemia
The odds of PNH, a rare bone marrow disorder, are around one in a million.
However, doctors at VCU were originally optimistic about finding a donor match for a stem cell transplant, something that could save her life.
Even with good odds, Lisa learned they found no matches on the bone marrow registry.
The woman who has devoted her life to protecting us now needs to find someone to protect her.
“It’s about getting the message out to everyone that can... You can make a difference in someone’s life, you can save someone’s life and you can prolong my life.”
Joining the Be The Match Registry is as easy as a cheek swab, and it’s free. You’ll not only increase Lisa’s chances of finding a match but anyone who is also in desperate need of a donor. Go to join.bethematch.org/lisastrong to register and have your DNA kit sent to your home for free. Simply swab your mouth and return it in the provided postage and your sample will be tested and placed in the registry to be a donor.
**Taken from Channel 13 report by Philip Townsend**
To help Lisa the doctors at VCU are starting her on a new chemotherapy drug, Soliris, literally the most expensive drug in America. Unfortunately Lisa's health insurance coverage will not cover the entire amount of this cost and this burden is placed on her shoulders. We want to take this burden from her and ask you the community to help Lisa get through these times so all she needs to worry about is staying positive and focusing on her health.
She’s a longtime CrossFit athlete, an 18-year Chesapeake firefighter/paramedic, a former Desert Storm Air Force Reservist, and a three-year colon cancer survivor.
“Fear consists of two meanings... Forget everything and run, or face everything and rise.”
Rising up is something Lisa is used to.
When she was confronted with cancer, she harnessed that new-found strength to beat it.
For the last three years, things have been looking up. She was cancer-free, enjoying a family of close friends, and thriving in the job she loves.
But on June 25, she learned another fight is ahead.
Lisa was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria paired with aplastic anemia
The odds of PNH, a rare bone marrow disorder, are around one in a million.
However, doctors at VCU were originally optimistic about finding a donor match for a stem cell transplant, something that could save her life.
Even with good odds, Lisa learned they found no matches on the bone marrow registry.
The woman who has devoted her life to protecting us now needs to find someone to protect her.
“It’s about getting the message out to everyone that can... You can make a difference in someone’s life, you can save someone’s life and you can prolong my life.”
Joining the Be The Match Registry is as easy as a cheek swab, and it’s free. You’ll not only increase Lisa’s chances of finding a match but anyone who is also in desperate need of a donor. Go to join.bethematch.org/lisastrong to register and have your DNA kit sent to your home for free. Simply swab your mouth and return it in the provided postage and your sample will be tested and placed in the registry to be a donor.
**Taken from Channel 13 report by Philip Townsend**
To help Lisa the doctors at VCU are starting her on a new chemotherapy drug, Soliris, literally the most expensive drug in America. Unfortunately Lisa's health insurance coverage will not cover the entire amount of this cost and this burden is placed on her shoulders. We want to take this burden from her and ask you the community to help Lisa get through these times so all she needs to worry about is staying positive and focusing on her health.
Organizer and beneficiary
Drew Kastelic
Organizer
Chesapeake, VA
Lisa Brandt
Beneficiary
