Hello....I hope this finds you well. In September of 2016 I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). With this disease, it's either you are born with it, or you get it at a very advanced age, OR something changes your chromosomal DNA.

Having this information I set out on a journey to find out what caused this, and that journey ended me up right back in Iraq. During my combat deployment with Lima Co. 3/25, I was exposed to several toxins, the worst being depleted uranium rounds that had been exploded via IED on a very sad day in August during my deployment. Our convoy was hit very hard and as the point man coming off the lead track I had to run through billowing smoke full of unknown numbers of toxins, but one for sure being the depleted uranium armor piercing rounds, so as to clear and take the first house in my section.

Fast forward to 2017 I had connected my combat deployment with my illness by way of research proving that exposure to exploded depleted uranium causes your DNA to shift over a period of years, until it finally shifts into something terrible like leukemia and other blood cancers. After 3 denials by the VA, my options were down to requesting a blind arbitrator, who ruled in my favor very quickly.

I'm now considered 100% totally and permanently disabled due to my illness through the VA. This was a blessing in a way because I had treatment options immediately available to me, and I wouldn't be financially strained by way of medical bills.

Coming at the end of 2018, my stem cell transplant was thought to be successful until my relapse into Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) towards the end of 2020. Chemo treatment was given often along with months total in the hospital. Unfortunately I relapsed again in May of 2022. We did more chemo and hospital stays and we're hoping for a second stem cell transplant if I could stay in a state of remission long enough, but unfortunately that has not been the case.

After 80+ rounds of chemo, and 27 bone marrow biopsies, I heard those terrible words "there's nothing else we can do for you with traditional medicine, you'll have to go the clinical trial route." I was devastated and cried for what seemed days all the while begging God to help me in some way.

Fast forward to today and I'm in Houston, TX which is around 1100 miles from my home in Cincinnati, OH. I most recently found out the amount of time we will be down here means we must move. This has caused a very stressful burden by way of finances on my wife and I. The VA is covering the cost of treatment, but I have no other options. Now that we must move down here, everything has changed financially. Whatever has to happen must happen immediately as everyday my disease worsens. We are financially strained due to my wife not being able to work as I need a full time caregiver now, so anything would help and be truly appreciated.

I'm sorry to be so long winded with my description, but, I want everyone to know the entire situation, and that you can help me possibly get to remission so I can get my second stem cell transplant and live a normal life for once. God bless and love for you all