My name is Francesca Phillips, and I am the proud wife of Jimmy. We’ve been married for 12 wonderful years and never imagined our lives would be shaped by a fight like this. On February 10th, our world changed forever. Jimmy was rushed to the emergency room after an urgent call from his medical team and was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. His leukemia includes the TP53 mutation along with three additional genetic mutations, making his case especially high risk and complex. Since his diagnosis, Jimmy has endured more than anyone should ever have to. He spent 65 days in the hospital, received two rounds of chemotherapy, more than 32 blood transfusions, and over 20 platelet transfusions. Through it all, he fought with incredible strength. We finally began to feel a sense of normalcy again and allowed ourselves to hope. Last Wednesday night, that hope was shaken. We received an urgent call from Kaiser asking us to bring Jimmy to the emergency room immediately due to dangerously low platelet counts. We were admitted that same night. At first, we were hopeful it was ITP, or Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a condition where the immune system attacks platelets but is not cancer-related. Jimmy received platelet transfusions and IVIg, a treatment made from donated antibodies used to stop the immune system from destroying platelets. Despite this, his counts continued to decline. Yesterday, our oncologist ordered a bone marrow biopsy. Today, we received the devastating news that Jimmy has relapsed. Fifteen percent blasts were found in his bone marrow, confirming that the leukemia has returned. We are heartbroken. It feels like our world has been shattered all over again. Just as we were beginning to breathe, we found ourselves back at the beginning of this fight. Due to the Kaiser strike, our oncologist ensured Jimmy would receive the care he urgently needs and referred him back to City of Hope. Jimmy was transferred by ambulance while I followed behind in my car. He has already begun extensive testing and has tested positive for RSV, which has added another layer of fear and frustration, especially since we raised concerns about his cough early on. While walking through all of this, I am continuing to work to help pay our bills, cover out-of-pocket medical costs, and keep Jimmy on my health insurance. I am also continuing my education, balancing school, work, and being Jimmy’s primary support and advocate during treatment. The financial strain remains overwhelming as medical bills, travel expenses, and everyday costs continue to add up. Any donation, no matter the amount, helps us stay afloat during this unimaginable time. Your support allows us to focus on Jimmy’s care and on getting through each day without having to choose between medical needs and basic living expenses. We are devastated, but we are here. And we are going to fight. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, support, thoughts, and prayers. With love and gratitude, Francesca Phillips