Stem Cell Transplant for Rare Disease - Ty Reimer

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with a rare blood disease called Amyloidosis. This disease only effects an estimated 50,000 people worldwide. AL Amyloidosis causes damage to organs by creating unnecessary protein chains, called light chains, that can deposit on multiple organs in the body. The most common areas are the kidneys, liver, and heart. These light chains will build up and eventually lead to failure of the organ. Luckily, my diagnosis was made early and my doctor was very thorough. My doctors at UAMS feel strongly that quick treatment will help keep my organs healthy and  prolong my life as currently the damage is minimal.  However, without treatment, I can have a spike at any time that could cause irreversible damage and lower my life expectancy drastically. Because the disease originates in the bone marrow, the treatment is intense. I will have to go through two rounds of chemotherapy and receive a stem cell transplant. There are many steps to this treatment but basically I will have 96 hours of continuous chemotherapy followed by multiple rounds of injections meant to stimulate rapid stem cell production. Then I will have a procedure similar to dialysis to filter out and store all of my new healthy stem cells. Finally, I will undergo one more round of chemo before having my stored stem cells reintroduced into my system. The hope is to eradicate all the abnormal cells and replace them with healthy ones; however, there is no cure for this disease and I will have to closely monitor it for the rest of my life.
     In order for my treatment to have the best outcome, it is imperative that it begins immediately. The first stage is scheduled to start November 30th at UAMS in Little Rock, AR. I will have to stay in town for the entire duration of my treatment. My wife and I plan to stay at an apartment provided by a non-profit organization, but this still will come with costs similar to a hotel. Luckily, we have family members that were able to step in to help stay with our four children at our house so their school and lives are not interrupted. In addition to our regular bills, my being out of work, and the costs involved with a long stay out of town my medical bills are already piling up. I am not sure yet what to expect, cost wise, but through my research I've gathered that it will be in the tens of thousands.
     I usually like to extend help, rather than ask for it, but in these difficult times I must reach out for support. If there is anything you can do to help, your generosity will not go unnoticed. Even a simple share can have a great impact. Any donations will go towards my family's housing, out of town housing, travel expenses, and numerous medical bills. Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey and please share.