Support Shelby's Fight Against Blood Cancer

Hi, my name is Vesta and I’m organizing this fundraiser for my dear friend Shelby, a 32-year-old single mother of two handsome boys Josiah (10) and Easton (3). Shelby is facing one of the most difficult battles of her life — a life-threatening blood cancer diagnosis that requires intensive chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant. Shelby has been out of work for the prior year battling; She has been receiving constant blood transfusions, antibiotics, platelets, and tons of procedures getting her ready for this day!. . . She is a RN and has been unable to work due to this illness, and will be unable to return to the nursing field for some time :(

Shelby will be hospitalized && isolated for a minimum of 30 days, ( the reality is it could be months as there are severe risks) with a long and difficult recovery ahead that doctors estimate could take 3 to 5 years. During this time, she will be unable to work or provide for her children as she focuses on surviving treatment and healing her body.

As a devoted mother, Shelby’s biggest worry isn’t her illness — it’s how she’ll care for her kids during this time. She's always been a hardworking, loving, and fiercely independent woman, but now she needs our help more than ever.

Your donation will help cover:

Housing and basic living expenses for Shelby and her children

Childcare and support while Shelby is hospitalized

Transportation to and from the hospital and follow-up appointments

Medical bills not covered by insurance

Ongoing recovery needs during her extended healing process

No amount is too small. Every donation, share, and kind word brings Shelby one step closer to getting the treatment she needs while ensuring her children are safe and cared for.

#ShelbyStrongAllDayLong #FaithOverFear #FckCancer

Please help us surround Shelby with love, support, prayers and the resources she needs to fight — and to heal. Below you will see some of the process she will be undergoing over the next few months-years.

A bone marrow transplant (also called a stem cell transplant) replaces damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy stem cells. It's often used to treat cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, or other serious blood disorders.

1. Pre-Transplant (Conditioning Phase)

Before the transplant, the patient undergoes high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation to:

Destroy the cancer cells

Eliminate the diseased bone marrow

Suppress the immune system (to prevent rejection)

This phase can last 5–10 days, and side effects are typically severe (nausea, fatigue, hair loss, infections, mouth sores, etc.).

2. Stem Cell Infusion (Transplant Day – “Day 0”)

Healthy stem cells — either from a donor (allogeneic transplant) or the patient’s own (autologous transplant) — are infused into the bloodstream, similar to a blood transfusion.

The stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin to regrow healthy blood cells.

This part is usually painless but emotionally significant — it’s the “rebirth” day.

3. Hospitalization & Immediate Recovery

After transplant:

The patient remains in isolation for at least 30 days in the hospital to avoid infections.

Daily monitoring of blood counts, vitals, and signs of complications like:

Graft-vs-Host Disease (GVHD) (if it’s a donor transplant)

Organ damage

Severe infections

Supportive care includes blood transfusions, IV fluids, antibiotics, and nutritional support.

4. Engraftment (New Cells Take Hold)

Occurs roughly 10–28 days after transplant.

White blood cell counts begin to rise — a key sign the transplant is working.

Still at high risk for infection and complications.

5. Long-Term Recovery (Months to Years)

The immune system takes 1–2 years to fully rebuild.

Recovery may take 3–5 years for full physical and emotional healing.

Regular clinic visits, biopsies, and bloodwork continue.

Risk of:

Chronic GVHD

Relapse

Fatigue and mental health challenges

‍‍ Life Impact

For a single mother, this process is incredibly disruptive:

She will be unable to work or care for her children for an extended period.

Needs help with housing, childcare, transportation, and daily living expenses.

Emotional support and financial assistance are critical to help her focus on surviving.