Hello, my name is Anastasia Leigh Whittaker. I was diagnosed with large diffuse B cell lymphoma in May of 2021 and did 6 rounds of chemotherapy. I beat that cancer and thought it was the end of my journey.

Unfortunately in January of 2022 I was diagnosed with aggressive leukemia and was on calquence for 3 1/2 years to keep the disease from progressing.

I will always remember the Sunday in April of 2025, I was working my job at the Regional Hospital in Saint John NB. I was working my normal 12 hour shift when I touched the right side of my neck and felt a lump. My heart sank! I thought oh no! Not again

I went to the emergency room and waited for 5 hours but ended up going home as they got insanely busy and I knew I wouldn't have been seen that night.

I made an appointment with my oncologist, and when I saw her days later she confirmed that my lymphoma was back with a vengeance!

I was then off to Ottawa for a clinical trial called Car T cell therapy which was not offered in Saint John NB yet. I flew to Ottawa Ontario on June 4th and was there until July 26th for this clinical trial.

Things were great until follow-up tests showed that this trial was unfortunately a failure.

When I got home I was admitted to the Regional Hospital for a different kind of chemotherapy that was also a failure unfortunately. I then started another chemotherapy last November that again did not work.

My hopes were slowly being crushed, this was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through.

Then in December of last year I started bite chemotherapy which actually started working! I was incredibly relieved thinking, one cancer down and one more to go!

I had to go on disability last May of 2025 which was not easy for me. I absolutely love my job at the SJ Regional Hospital and I definitely adore my coworkers.

Needless to say this was not an easy transition for me. I have always valued feeling productive in my community and have always loved feeling like a productive member of society.

Not working meant more time to think, which was very hard on my mental health.

This month my latest pet scan showed incredible progress with no new diseases and everything else showed up less bright than before which was incredible news for me and my family.

I thought, "finally! Lymphoma is gone. Now to get rid of this leukemia".

I figured it would be easier than it has been honestly.

Trying to find accomadations I have come to the troubling conclusion: Toronto is so much more expensive than Saint John NB. How do I afford accommodation for Toronto as well as my home here? It's basically impossible today!

I need to be in Toronto by March 30th this month for a stem cell transplant for my aggressive leukemia. I have no idea how we will afford flights for myself, my caregiver and my 2 children. I have been calling places for at least 2 weeks straight and honestly can't believe how expensive everything is.

I reached out to staywell.ca and they have absolutely nothing at this time other than one 3 bedroom condo for $8990.00 a month!

No one on disability could possibly afford this amount of money! Especially on top of paying your normal rent with groceries, gas and food etc for your family.

It is for this reason that I have finally decided to start my own GoFundMe as I am insanely desperate for help and just want to get back to my normal & regular life.

I will be in Toronto admitted into the Princess Margaret Cancer Center for at least a solid month. I will be doing chemotherapy as well as radiation and will not be able to take care of myself.

I will need to be in Toronto for at least 3 months and up to 6 months for appointments at Princess Margaret.

I am calling on all the beautiful humans out there for help.

Please help me get to Toronto for my stem cell transplant so I can get back home and get back to my normal & wonderful life with my family.

I am the last person to beg for handouts but I honestly am at a loss right now and desperately need all the help that I can get.

Anything helps. Thank you for taking the time to read this ♥︎