Texas Fight. Help for former UT volleyball player needed!

Hi Everyone: I want to share this update from Jackie with you. She needs our continued support because her time in Houston is being extended! Please read and share!

Hello. This is Jackie Campbell, Yanaq's mom. We have been at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas since June 10th. After 3 grueling months of chemo, they were able to clear Yanaq's leukemia which, along from taking over the usual bone marrow, had settled into his bones (from toes, legs and arms to face). He had his 2nd bone marrow transplant last week. HIs first was in 2018 and his brother Josef was the donor. This time, 2 umbilical cord donations were used. To prepare him for transplant, his own marrow had to be ablated, wiped out. This has left him without an immune system and ability to make blood cells until the transplanted stem cells engraft. This normally takes 25 days. We are waiting.

Once that happens, Yanaq will remain hospitalized until stable and then we can leave to stay nearby for daily checkups and transfusions until he is safe to come home. The estimated time left here in Houston is around 100 days.

I have not been able to work and we've been without an income since the end of May. Fortunately, Yanaq's adult siblings and family friends have been able to help out financially and we have had housing assistance from different charities (Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, Chance for Hope). As you can imagine, 6 months away from home, not being able to begin his senior year and suffering from this cruel cancer treatment has Yanaq pretty down. The biggest help to him, aside from getting the medical care he needs, is having his younger siblings, Jhanaj and Victor visit to remind him of who he is and help him keep fighting. With bills and groceries to pay and my credit cards almost at their max, its hard to get them here. I am updating this go fund me to send to those who know our family in case you would like to help us in this mission to help heal him. If you are not able to help, maybe you could share this with someone who is. Yanaq has come a long way (battling this since 2011) and with the advances in treatment, he has been able to keep going. I'm asking for support to help him finish this once and for all.

We are very thankful to moms and babies and to everyone who donates blood and marrow. I also want to thank those who have already helped us.

Sincerely, Jackie and the Quispe family

Original Post:

In 1983, I set foot on the UT campus as a high school senior and volleyball recruit. I was introduced to my host Jackie Campbell who spent the weekend showing me around. I knew instantly I wanted to be a Longhorn because of Jackie. She made a big place like UT feel safe and inviting.

Jackie was such a key member of building the Longhorn program into the national powerhouse it is today. Jackie gave her literal sweat to the UT Volleyball program, enduring long workouts in Gregory Gym long before it was air-conditioned.

Today, Jackie is in Houston at MD Anderson with her son (7th of 8 children) who is battling Leukemia. She has had to quit her job and uproot her life to, once again, make a big place feel safe for someone else.

While Jackie's energy goes into her family, I am asking that Longhorn Nation take Jackie under our wings, giving her the love and support she has always offered other people.