KDE Love for Liya

In January 2018, our beloved KDE sister Liya Shuster-Bier (2010) was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, or “PMBL” - a rare blood cancer.  On February 5, 2018, Liya started an aggressive chemotherapy regime. On June 2, she completed 600 hours of chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and was told she was in remission. However, last November she went in for a routine scan and a 4x6cm tumor was found just beneath her thymus. Like the warrior she is, Liya immediately started another aggressive treatment plan, but this time it included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant. Liya finally left the hospital on March 16th and we are hoping that her post-transplant scans are clear in May.

For those of you who know Liya, you know that she has embodied every aspect of being a phenomenal woman through this journey. Her life has forever changed as she left her 20s knowing she has cancer and now entered 31 with a brand new immune system. Throughout this entire time, Liya has been open about the importance of mental strength as she navigates a new chapter in her life. Liya has found an incredible therapist in New York who helps guide her through her experiences. In addition, she has found an amazing alternative medicine healer who continues to help strengthen her mind and body together. Of course, neither of these critical steps in her recovery are covered by insurance. We thought what a better way to help a sister out than to support her mind, body and spirit continue to gain strength and resilience.

We put together this fundraiser to ensure Liya doesn't have to choose between medical bills and her own recovery and healing. In a dream world, she will be able to see her therapist once a week and her healer every two weeks. Any contribution is incredibly kind and helpful! 

$20 covers roundtrip transportation to an appointment (because of her stem cell transplant she cannot currently use public transportation)
$50 helps cover a therapy or healer visit
$100 covers transportation to appointments for 1 month 
$170 covers an entire alternative medicine healer visit
$250 covers an entire therapy visit

Of course, we are organizing through KDE, but if you know a non-KDE that would like to contribute please forward along. Thank you very much for your support!