Support Mai Fights Against NK T Cell Lymphoma

My name is Mai Vue, a compassionate nurse, hard working mom of 6 kids, age range from 4 to 14 years of age, and a wife to a loving husband and father, Mai Xiong, 37 years old. Our cancer story started with my husband, Mai Xiong, being woke up by a nosebleed and thereafter ended up with blocked bilateral nasal passages for the past 2 years. At first, we thought it was just seasonal allergy so he decided to take over the counter medications and nasal spray; however, it was to no relief and asked to be referred to an ENT doctor. With the ENT recommendation, my husband tried steriod oral meds along with different kind of nasal sprays, but to no relief. The ENT doctor decided that it was a deviated turbinate so he recommended bilateral nasal septoplasty turbinoplasty; however, the surgery was unsucessful. Postop care was followed thru, but his nose was still blocked with no airway entry. Through sleepless nights and tired days, we decided to be referred out to the UC Davis ENT team.

Going into the 2nd year, we finally got in with the UC Davis ENT team. At first, we were told to trial with nasal sprays and applied oil to moisterized his nares. However, each time we go back to the ENT clinic, his blocked nare passages did not get better but worse. Finally, in March of 2024, my husband went in for an endoscopy of the nose, biopsies. It was the day after easter of 2024 that we recieved the call from the UC Davis ENT to informed us that the biopsies they took ended up to be a type of cancer called lymphoma. At this time, my husband has been struggling with intermittent fevers and has lost about 10 lbs and was told by his ENT that it must has been the cancer flaring up. I couldn't go to work because I also have to care for my 6 kids beside my sick husband so I ended up on a leave of absence due to stress and to care for my husband.

The lymphoma diagnosis led us to UC Davis oncologist team. Once there, the oncologist informed us that he has a very rare type of cancer named extranodal NK T cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After MRI and PET scan, the lymphoma was stage II with the recommendation of 2 cycles of mSMILE chemotheray plus radiation therapy. It was a hard pill to swallow for my husband and I because we would never thought that such a fate would fall upon us and our 6 beautiful kids. However, I knew that I have to be strong for him to be strong and for our childrens to continue to be loved by both parents. Eventhough the future is unseen, we both decided to do what is best for the family and go for it.

June of 2024 started and my husband was hospitalized for his first chemotherapy session. Still on my leave of absence, I was glad and able to be with him on his chemo journey and first hospitalization in his life. Eventhough we lived an hour away and had to find a babysitter for our kids, we made it work.

Today, my husband, going from 160 lbs since start of chemo to now 129 lbs, is still trying to finish his 2nd chemotherapy session; however, he has beening going in and out of hospitalization due to medical difficulties. Since being off work since April, I found it hard to go back to work because this challenging period has seen us in and out of the hospital, and the financial strain is becoming overwhelming. We are reaching out to our community for support to help cover medical expenses, daily living costs, and to provide some stability for our children during this difficult time. Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world to us and help us focus on Mai's recovery. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.