Support Sheila's Fight Against AML

Help Sheila Fight Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The Diagnosis

On 6/2/25, our world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with AML through routine blood work. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is an aggressive form of blood cancer that progresses rapidly and requires immediate intensive treatment to get to remission. This requires prolonged hospital stays, rounds of chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant. Our mother is a 12-year survivor of breast cancer. The AML she has been diagnosed with is therapy-related, meaning the chemo she took 12 years ago is what caused this AML.

The Treatment Journey

Right now, our mother Sheila is undergoing chemotherapy at Siteman Cancer Center. This battle comes with incredible strength and determination. We started the treatment on 6/17/25, which will consist of intensive inpatient induction chemotherapy treatment to start. Our mother will be in the hospital for 30-35 days during the induction phase of the treatment. She will take 4 rounds of chemotherapy during the hospitalization. The goal is to gain remission after this round of induction chemo. She will undergo another bone marrow biopsy to determine if the chemo treatment is working. The most difficult part is there is no plan currently; our plan is to fight and pray that we gain remission. Test results will not show if the chemo is working until we are further into the treatment. When we reach remission, she will need to do a cycle of chemo every month until we get to the bone marrow transplant. The doctors are hopeful to be able to get the transplant in 3 months.

Why We Need Your Help

Fighting leukemia is not only physically and emotionally draining, it's financially overwhelming. Due to the severity of the diagnosis and the extensive treatment, my mom will not be able to work this year. She will have to have around-the-clock care after being discharged from the hospital, which will cause both myself and my sister to miss work.

We are asking for any help you can give. Every dollar raised will go directly towards medical and living expenses during this difficult time.

❤️ How You Can Help

• Donate: Any amount, big or small, makes a difference.

• Share: Please share this with your friends and family and send us prayers.

Thank You

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your kindness, generosity, and support give us hope and strength every single day. We know this will be a long journey, but we are not walking it alone.

With gratitude, Sara and Stephanie