Matthew Glicken Wants a Chance at Life
Donation protected
My name is Matthew Glicken. I am 29 years old and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in December of 2018. Prior to this, I was employed for 4 years as a full-time bus driver for Kelly Tours in Savannah, Georgia.
Aplastic Anemia is a rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells. The cause is unknown. The result is fatigue and high risk of infection and bleeding. Other than medical appointments, they don’t want me out. It is impossible for me to work. Since December, I’ve been getting blood infusions twice each week and have been hospitalized several times for treatment.
The infusions and treatments are not a cure. At some point, infusion won’t be an option due to a buildup of antibodies. I need a Stem Cell Transplant aka Bone Marrow Transplant. Savannah doesn’t do this procedure, so I will have to go to Emory in Atlanta. I will be hospitalized for about 3 weeks to “prepare my body” to receive the donor cells. (This means chemo and radiation.) I will endure a few weeks of absolute misery just for a chance at life. After the donor cells are injected, I will need to stay in Atlanta as an outpatient for about 4 months. The Atlanta docs will monitor me several times a week looking for signs of rejection. They plan to get started at the end of July.
I have health insurance, but there will be expenses above and beyond. In addition to the medical bills, I have to find a place to stay in Atlanta for 4 months. The housing cost alone is staggering. This is why I am asking for your help.
I was finally at the point in my life where I was saving and seriously thinking about moving into my own place. I guess I’m somewhat lucky that I didn’t, as I have been able to continue staying with my mother and grandmother. My father passed away in 2006 and it has been difficult on all of us. Just a few months before my illness, my mother reconnected with a college boyfriend who has added some fun back into our lives and taken most of the responsibility for carting me back and forth to appointments so that Mom can continue working. Speaking of Mom, the donor search generally starts with siblings, but I’m an only child. No match has been found on the national registry (bethematch.org) either. So my mom will be not only my caretaker in Atlanta, but also my donor.
Thank you for your time and if you can donate even a dollar it will be greatly appreciated. I promise that when I am able, I will gladly pay it forward.
Aplastic Anemia is a rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells. The cause is unknown. The result is fatigue and high risk of infection and bleeding. Other than medical appointments, they don’t want me out. It is impossible for me to work. Since December, I’ve been getting blood infusions twice each week and have been hospitalized several times for treatment.
The infusions and treatments are not a cure. At some point, infusion won’t be an option due to a buildup of antibodies. I need a Stem Cell Transplant aka Bone Marrow Transplant. Savannah doesn’t do this procedure, so I will have to go to Emory in Atlanta. I will be hospitalized for about 3 weeks to “prepare my body” to receive the donor cells. (This means chemo and radiation.) I will endure a few weeks of absolute misery just for a chance at life. After the donor cells are injected, I will need to stay in Atlanta as an outpatient for about 4 months. The Atlanta docs will monitor me several times a week looking for signs of rejection. They plan to get started at the end of July.
I have health insurance, but there will be expenses above and beyond. In addition to the medical bills, I have to find a place to stay in Atlanta for 4 months. The housing cost alone is staggering. This is why I am asking for your help.
I was finally at the point in my life where I was saving and seriously thinking about moving into my own place. I guess I’m somewhat lucky that I didn’t, as I have been able to continue staying with my mother and grandmother. My father passed away in 2006 and it has been difficult on all of us. Just a few months before my illness, my mother reconnected with a college boyfriend who has added some fun back into our lives and taken most of the responsibility for carting me back and forth to appointments so that Mom can continue working. Speaking of Mom, the donor search generally starts with siblings, but I’m an only child. No match has been found on the national registry (bethematch.org) either. So my mom will be not only my caretaker in Atlanta, but also my donor.
Thank you for your time and if you can donate even a dollar it will be greatly appreciated. I promise that when I am able, I will gladly pay it forward.
Organizer
Sandra Glicken
Organizer
Savannah, GA
